Grenada
JASON ROBERTS FOUNDATION
Established in 2007 by the former professional footballer, media personality, and social activist Jason Roberts, the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) focuses on football-based social inclusion projects. They run projects that offer participation and playing opportunities to young people who otherwise have little chance of accessing professional coaching or opportunities to progress as players. The organisation works both in the UK and in Grenada.
Recently, the work of JRF has expanded to provide a more holistic programme of support, including mentoring, life skills, education, and training projects within its wider sports activities. They have developed accredited training packages in Equality and Diversity Awareness, as well as sporting qualifications that are delivered across Grenada.
Country
statistics
74 out of 189 in Human Development Index rankings (UNDP, 2020)
$8,590 Average annual salary per person (World Bank, 2021)
21% of the population live below the poverty line. (CIA Factbook, 2019)
Much of the above figures for poverty come from its heavily rural and agricultural population (over 60%), with incomes being constantly affected by the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
In turn, the housing situation is regularly impacted by yearly hurricanes – where some (notably in 2004, damaging 80% of houses) leave the poorest without homes (Relief Web, 2009). Funds to rebuild have arrived in both grants and loans. Beneficial for short term reconstruction, but this has pushed the country into heavy debt (70% of GDP) and dependency on foreign aid.
The mainstream economy is based on tourism and spice exportation, among other products. Without suitable access to the main cities and the accompanying educational and economic opportunities, the rural communities continue to add to the poverty and homeless statistics.
STORIES from the region
