Jamaican Self-Help – Empowering People, Building Community

Jamaican Self-Help (JSH) is a non-governmental, registered charitable organization based in Peterborough, Ontario founded in 1978 by John & Rosemary Ganley, two teachers from Peterborough. In its beginnings, JSH was a volunteer based organization that worked with a Jamaican musical

JSH is currently working to help improve the living circumstances of Jamaican people by fostering self-sustaining programs such as literacy, skills training, community development, and institutional strengthening. Our Jamaican partners inspire us — they are the reason we do what

There are many ways you can get involved! You can attend or host an event, volunteer your time or make a donation. JSH is a welcoming and inclusive organization and we truly appreciate any contribution you can make. To find out

We’ve seen many successes over the years thanks to Jamaican Self-Help — and especially with our music programme and our dance programme... We have seen our children singing, and we have seen the manifestation of their happiness as they participate in the music programme funded by JSH. This is the first time the students have been able to play with instruments in over 15 years! This is a major achievement. So thank you, Jamaican Self-Help!

Estella Forrester St. Annie's Teacher

2019 Jamaica Trip Update
March 2, 2019
Seeing a Different Side of Jamaica When we think of Jamaica, we see beautiful white beaches, hear the lively reggae music, smell the sumptuous jerk chicken and feel the warm sea breezes. Jamaican Self-Help recently took a group of adultsRead More »
Rosemary Ganley to receive YMCA Peace Medal
November 23, 2018
Jamaican Self-Help, the organization that Rosemary Ganley and her husband, John, founded is thrilled that Rosemary is being honoured on November 23rd by receiving this year’s YMCA’s peace medallion. Rosemary is truly a humanitarian as she works diligently on genderRead More »
2018 Spring e-Newsletter
April 21, 2018
Welcome to our Spring E-Newsletter! We hope that you will enjoy learning about progress that has been made over the past few months in Jamaican communities thanks to our deeply committed volunteers and donors. As well, weRead More »