MASSENA -- Every year around Christmas time, Jefferson Elementary focuses on the theme of “Citizenship” as part of its character education program.

On Wednesday, Dec. 12, Jefferson third graders had the opportunity to listen to SUNY Potsdam International Education and Programs Director, Krista LaVack and SUNY Potsdam student, John Bernstein talk about the Jamaica Field Service Project.

The Jamaica Field Service Project (JAFSP) is an ongoing service learning program accredited and administered by SUNY Potsdam, which is open to university students from participating universities from across the US and Canada. JAFSA bring school supplies, tutors, musical instruments and instruction to the schools of Jamaica five times yearly, with the support of the Rotary, Peace Corp, and the Claudia Williams HIV Education Center of Jamaica. Trips also include music-therapy and community health students who do volunteer work in the area care centers, all under the supervision of accredited supervisors and professors.

In keeping with the citizenship theme, students are invited to assist with this program by bringing in school supplies—notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, etc.—that Potsdam students will give to a Jamaican school when the college students visit the country in the spring semester.