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| Surrounded by the young leaders of the Breadnut Hill Primary School in Ocho Rios, Jamaica |
I am fresh from Jamaica and my vacation and brought back loads of sunshine for you. I know that you know that I had an amazing time, but I get joy in rubbing it in. What you may not know is that I am still on a high, because Jamaica has that effect on most. In fact, that high is so strong that sometimes it can just rub off on you without YOU even being there. Many have shared that they feel a strong sense of connection and joy by just reading my editorials, checking out my photos and watching the videos I shot while there. That makes ME happy to be spreading the love.
Seriously though, I
highly suggest that you put Jamaica on your list of places to visit this year so you can feel even half as happy as I am right now. And just for the record, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) did NOT pay me to say that; it is straight from the heart. But come to think of it, I SHOULD contact the JTB since I am endorsing the country so much. Don't it though? Kidding :-) As
Sequoia of
Ites International said to me in response to seeing some videos I brought back
"Peppy, service is really our best work." It is my pleasure to be of service to YOU.
Sooooo, last week I shared a few clips and
photos on the community service I was doing in the island, and this week, the story continues because quite frankly, I am not the only one who is in love with Jamaica. Many of you took the time out to send me notes, texts, etc. after seeing the great work that I was doing there and that made me feel even better about giving back, especially to our children. In light of all of that,
this week the conversation is around
'Giving Back to Jamaica Through Education.'
In case you were not aware, Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence this year so there are tons of happenings leading up to that half a century achievement. YOU can get involved right now by making a firm decision to give back through education whether or not you are Jamaican.
Join me on
PEP Talk Radio tonight from 9pm to 10pm EST on
www.harambeeradio.com when I rap with
Ja'Nice Wisdom, executive director of
Read Across Jamaica (RAJ), the organization that I worked with on MY trip, and
Hopeton Brown, a board member of RAJ and the person who escorted me to and from Breadnut Hill Primary School while I was in Jamaica. Also joining the conversation will be
Veronica Majziak (pronounced My-Shack) of
Project Give Back.
Let's see if together we can encourage you and others to give back to Jamaica through education. There are countless ways you can help: donating money and/or books, donating your time, sponsoring a child, etc. etc. Right now I am singing
"I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." Can you hear me now? Good.
Later,
