The Kairos Network Source
Providing social services for 10 years
EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE student ToniKay Foster is happy to have access to a cyber café with printing facilities that is only a stone’s throw away from her home.
“I don’t own a computer or have access to the Internet at home, therefore, it benefits me to be able to go to the Source Centre, in easy walking distance, because I always have school assignments to complete and print,” she shared.
Foster was commending the availability of The Kairos Network Source in August Town – a social enterprise franchise established a decade ago to address basic social needs in her community – for providing Internet access, being a homework centre and meeting space, as well as providing special projects for young people and adults.
Foster added, “It is central, convenient, and benefits the community as anyone can come here and use it. And it is accessible, with affordable services.”
Established by the JN Foundation, the social arm of The Jamaica National Group, in 2007, The Source was designed to connect community members to innovative services and to resolve social challenges.
Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, said: “We are proud that after 10 years, The Source is still operative, and the community continues to benefit from its expanding services.”
“This is evidence that community transformation takes time and proper management. You need to implement sustainable programmes and facilities such as The Source,” she noted, pointing out that there are four other centres, located in Maverley, St Andrew; Ocho Rios, St Ann; Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth; and Savanna-laMar, Westmoreland.
The Source was subsequently named “The UWI Source” in
August 2011 and operated in concert with the UWI Township Project. Later in 2015, it was handed over to the community, and it is now being managed by the faith-based organisation, The Kairos Network Source.
George Scott, current manager of The Source, said that it offers critical services such as an Internet café and photocopying services; an afterschool homework centre; Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Top-up (where commuters can top up their JUTC cards); the sale of telephone cards; assistance with letter writing for businesses; research services; and is a meeting space for rental.
“The Source pulls in approximately 150 persons per week. Many persons use its JUTC Top-up service on a daily basis,” he pointed out.