Blue Mountain Project (BMP)

About us

The Blue Mountain Project is a grassroots, non-profit, volunteer organization that has been working since 2004 in the rural villages of the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. By living and working directly with the communities we serve, we identify key areas of needed development and facilitate sustainable solutions.
Incorporated in the United States and registered in Jamaica, the BMP is governed by an international Board of Directors that is guided by the needs, ideas, and wishes of the communities where we live and work.
The Blue Mountain Project (BMP) collaborates with the people of the Jamaican Blue Mountains, facilitating international relationships to improve the region’s health, education, and economy.

We focus on three main programs:
• Health – Two health centers, basic health education, and home visits to shut-ins who are not able to visit the health centers.
• Education – Computer lab, community library, and a summer camp that provides educational enrichment.
• Service Learning – Short term volunteer program that helps us meet our health and education goals while participating in cultural exchange.

Our work
• Education - Inspiring & Developing Community Leaders: The Blue Mountain Project (BMP) runs a community library with computer lab for all ages. Services offered include homework help, literacy programs, and summer camps. We also support the work of our schools, including two Primary Schools and five Basic Schools (equivalent of preschool in the United States). Support consists of in-kind donations of supplies, educational enrichment for both the students and teachers, as well as special projects such as establishing a computer lab with wi-fi at both Primary Schools. BMP relies on volunteers to deliver its educational programs and services.
• Healthcare: The Blue Mountain Project works with the Jamaican Ministry of Health to provide basic health care aimed at supporting the work and vision of the St. Thomas Parish Medical Director. The BMP:
o operates two rural health centers
o provides basic health education
o facilitates home health visit programs for the homebound
o coordinates other health programs
• Service Learning Project: Our Service Learning Program (SLP) provides short-term volunteers the opportunity to live, work and experience life in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Qualified volunteers work in either health or education, providing short-term services such as public health education, tutoring, or even one-time special events/projects such as health fairs or computer lab maintenance. In addition to serving, volunteers learn about the local community while they live with host families, eat authentic meals and meet the area shop keepers, farms and families. This symbiotic relationship allows volunteers the opportunity to “get as much as they give.”

Denise Cagley-Jefferson is the Founder and Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Project (BMP).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.