Why Jamaica?

90% of the residents in Riverton, the community we work with by the Kingston garbage dump, live under the poverty line.
Close to 1 million Jamaicans make less than $5US per day - in a country where a loaf of bread still costs $3US
17.6% or close to 500,000 Jamaicans are living below the poverty line.
The richest 20% of Jamaica's population retain over 50% of the income.
Jamaica is ranked the 147th country out of 203 for high unemployment rates of 16.3%.
An average Jamaican school teacher makes $2/hour.

Jamaica, although often a country overlooked as one in need, has communities that are suffering in poverty. Jamaica's economy is burdened by international debt repayments of the $6 billion outstanding to international lenders. Most of what the government collects in tax, is swiftly put towards repaying the mountains of debt. This strangle-hold that the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international lending agencies has over the country, disables the government's chance to invest in public sector initiatives, such as eliminating poverty, increasing social welfare, education or health programs etc.

The poverty line at an all time high in the last decade with over 17% of the population live in poverty. Most of those that fall under the 17%, live in rural or poor inner city communities. One of those communities is Riverton City. Though exact figures are not documented, an estimated 90% of Riverton's residents live under the poverty line and are unemployed.

For further information, or for referencing the above statistics, please visit:

News article on Poverty in Jamaica - Gleaner Newspaper:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111009/business/business8.html

World Bank Poverty Indicators:
http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/JAM

CIA World Factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html

Statistical Institute of Jamaica:
http://statinja.gov.jm/LabourMarketEarnings/BasicHourlyRateOfHoursRatedWageEarnessinLgEstMIG.aspx