Frequently Asked Questions

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We connect Jamaican youth (ages 12–19, grades 6–13) with experienced professionals from the Jamaican diaspora. Participants meet virtually to support mentee development via structured mentorship including CVs, goal-setting, personal development, and more.

Mission – Empower Jamaican youth by matching them with diaspora mentors through virtual mentoring sessions. Motto – “Jamaica Diaspora Empowers Tomorrow; One Mentee at a Time.”  

• Soft Launch: June 18–19, 2024 at the 10th Biennial Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay.
   
• Official Launch: October 28, 2024, at a hybrid event in Kingston with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information, in the presence of Minister  of state Alando Terrelong (MFAFT) and Permanent Secretary (MoEYSI).

 At launch, 80 mentors (77 diaspora-based) were matched with 86 mentees. Since then, JDMA has onboarded 91 mentors and aims to reach over 200 mentees within 2 years of unveiling.  

Mentors follow a 12‑step process: application → interviews → ethics agreement → training → matching → monthly virtual sessions → logs and quarterly events → seasonal events → end‑of‑year evaluation . 

 Participants complete deliverables such as CVs, cover letters, portfolios, personal goals, and development plans. Mentors hold monthly sessions and maintain logbooks. Achievements are monitored through quarterly check-ins and final evaluations.

 The Advisory Board (10 members) vets mentors, conducts random check-ins, leads workshops, addresses challenges, and ensures sustainability, following due diligence alongside the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information.

 Mentees are categorized based on attendance and quality:

• Gold Star: No missed sessions, exceptional deliverables, proactive.
   
• Silver Star: Fewer than 3 missed sessions, high-standard work.
   
• Bronze Star: More than 3 missed but deliverables submitted 

  They partner with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Education and Youth, the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, and VMFoundation (which provided a small grant)

 By providing scholarships, tech resources, programme materials, phone plans, and badges. Interested parties can reach out via this website or g j d c education@gmail.com (Please remove spaces.)

 Applicants fill out the appropriate online form to create an account, followed by information sessions, ethics agreements, onboarding training, and matching 

Link for mentors: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdplHu1tLF9wt2c3qTRW2S9CAZ4Jydh_Gr_QAlufgfWjMlFFA/viewform?usp=pp_url 

Link for mentees: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflsH_DPMAJWx2sgghp2QS1t1t3RI1Ardu4KjjLWAMCiOpngQ/viewform?usp=pp_url 

g j d c education@gmail.com for queries and additional details. (Please remove spaces) 

 Yes, our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@JamaicaDiasporaMentorshipAcade) features launch footage and highlights about virtual diaspora engagement portals. It’s a good place to understand our approach and connect visually. 

We also work with https://www.youtube.com/@nataliesmithleadershiptalent (Youtube) and https://www.nataliesmithleadershipandtalentdevelopment.com/ (website) for quality training content and e-books. 

Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand. The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council's (https://mfaft.gov.jm/site/elected-members-2/) Education Sector lead.                                  Let's connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondre-colly/ 

JDMA’s aim is clear: strengthen Jamaican youth potential through structured, virtual mentorship anchored by diaspora expertise. It includes a robust process, oversight mechanisms, recognition for mentees, and interactive partnerships—all backed by online and multimedia support.