Jamaica
Mustard Seed Communities began in 1978 in the depressed community of Mona Common on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Mustard Seed began as a home for abandoned and disabled children and today serves over 500 children and young adults with disabilities, children who are HIV positive, pregnant teens and their babies. Mustard Seed has grown throughout Jamaica and in addition to Kingston has apostolates in St. Catherine, St. Andrew, St. Ann, and St. James.
Blessed AssuranceDare to CareMy Father's House |
Jacob's LadderJerusalem!
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Mary's ChildSophie's PlaceWidow's Mite |
Blessed AssuranceBlessed Assurance is located on five acres of land in Windsor Lodge, St. James, just outside of Montego Bay. With the addition of this home, Mustard Seed Communities is able to serve children with disabilities and pregnant teens and their babies in the north western part of Jamaica. As the program grows, children living with HIV/AIDS will also find comfort and care here. |
Dare to Care
Dare to Care is the first and only home of its kind in Jamaica to provide care specifically for children living with HIV/AIDS. The doors of Dare to Care opened to seven children on September 14, 2000. The home has since expanded and now cares for over 31 children ranging in ages 5 to 17 years. These children come from all over Jamaica, abandoned or orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and are themselves living with the virus. More information
My Father's House
My Father’s House is home to fifty children with varying degrees of physical and cognitive disabilities. It also houses Mustard Seed Communities primary headquarters; ROOTS FM, social justice radio; and Little Angels Preschool, providing education to children in the local community. Two of Mustard Seed Communities’ economic projects, the pottery studio and card making workshop are also located here.
The chapel at My Father’s House is at the center of the community. Mass is celebrated daily at 4:30 AM; formal prayer and devotion are held in the morning, mid-day and in the evening.
Jacob's Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder, is located in Haddon, St. Ann on 100 acres of land donated to Mustard Seed Communities by the bauxite company Windalco. In Jamaica, there are no facilities - governmental or otherwise - available to take care of individuals with mental and physical disabilities after the age of 18. The vision for Jacob’s Ladder is to fill this void by providing 500 young adults with mental and physical disabilities with a home where they can live out their lives.
This vision is being achieved through the construction of 100 cottages to house the residents and staff and by establishing an agricultural system; vegetables, tree crops, animal husbandry, and fish ponds for in-house food needs and to generate income by selling excess produce in the domestic market. Our goal is to achieve a self-sustainable facility through farming and other economic projects.
At present, there are nearly 40 cottages completed and just under 50 residents living at Jacob’s Ladder. There are several greenhouses on the premises and both farming and animal husbandry are currently underway. Work continues on future cottages and residents are continually arriving at this growing apostolate.
Jerusalem!
Located on eight acres in Spanish Town, Jerusalem! serves as a residential facility for 150 abandoned children and young adults. Jerusalem provides a safe and nurturing environment for individuals challenged both mentally and physically. Our residents have illnesses ranging from schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses to autism, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and HIV/AIDS.
Jerusalem Village caters to older teenage and adult residents in a setting where several houses make up a small neighborhood. These homes provide an integrated facility where those considered “normal” and those with special needs co-exist. Training is emphasized as residents are prepared for a semi-independent way of life. Training includes exposure to construction, home economics, farm work and formal education.
The farm at Jerusalem functions as both a therapeutic alternative for the residents and an income generating project. The farm currently has two fish ponds, 2000 chickens for egg production, a vegetable garden and a small flock of sheep. The farm serves the in house protein needs of the residents while the surplus is sold to neighboring communities.
Martha's House
In June 2006, Mustard Seed Communities’ third initiative to care for children affected by HIV/AIDS was established in downtown Kingston. This facility was destroyed by fire in March 2009. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Martha’s House was rebuilt on the Jerusalem campus and reopened in December 2009. The home cares for over thirty children.
Matthew 25:40
Matthew 25:40, Mustard Seed Communities’ second home for children living with HIV, was established in November 2002. This home caters to the needs of teenage boys.
Mary's Child
Mary’s Child is a home for pregnant teens and their babies and is one of the only residential facilities of this kind in Jamaica. Mary’s Child accommodates twelve mothers and their babies for periods of up to a year. The home provides academic instructions, counseling and skills training to residents with the goal of providing the residents with the skills they need to be successful in their lives when they leave Mary’s Child.
Sophie's Place
Sophie’s Place, located in Gordon Town, St. Andrew, is home to over twenty children with profound disabilities. The residents participate in a collaborative project with the University of Technology in which they attend daily sessions with occupational therapists on the University campus.
Sophie’s Place provides accommodations for volunteers, a chapel, and Little Angels basic school which serves some residents of Sophie's Place and children from the surrounding communities.
Widow's Mite
Widow's Mite is located in Murray Mount, St. Ann and is the first residential home for abandoned children with disabilities that Mustard Seed Communities developed outside of Kingston. Widow’s Mite cares for twenty children.
