Diaspora-Engagement, A 2-Way Street

While Jamaicans in Jamaica work to be the best they can be, Jamaicans in the Diaspora do the same. Some of us have a little more resources, others with a lot more, yet pound-for-pound, we all work hard to sustain life, family, and lifestyle.

Many Jamaicans leave the original “soil” to foreign lands to find better, more comfortable opportunities and working conditions, hoping for greener grass. In doing so, we gained a wealth of knowledge that enables us to advance in our careers and play our part in helping needy persons or empowering those at home who serve the needy.

I will not brag that there are 3 million Jamaicans in the Diaspora. I am not sure where that number came from. It might be true if we accounted for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and other generations. Since Diaspora includes so many Jamaicans, if it’s true, I can say with a high degree of certainty that we can count on the passion of first-generation Jamaicans to give back to their homeland. Mobilizing other generations might be a challenge. It is possible, but how often do we train our farrin offspring to give back? I mean from 2nd generation downwards. For example, many of us are also members of the African Diaspora. Yet, one would question how many Jamaicans possess the same amount or more passion for the mother country of Africa; to do a similar amount of passionate work they would for their…