Joining a global campaign aimed at educating children on the importance of a healthy lifestyle through play and recreation, The Sandals Foundation teamed up with The Coca-Cola Company and key partners within Jamaica earlier this month to launch the “Let’s Play”physical education program.  The program will now promote physical fitness and awareness to more than 5,000 students across the island. 

Kicking off on Nov 7th at the Jones Town Primary School in Kingston, several local supporters, including The Sandals Foundation, Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, The Wisynco Group Limited and Yohan Blake’s YB Afraid Foundation, rallied behind The Coca-Cola Company’s Live Positively platform as the program launched with a bundle of fun activities, games and a meet & greet with the native Olympian sprinter.  

Positively influencing youth to develop healthier lifestyle habits at an early age, the “Let’s Play” program is successfully established in several countries across Central and South America and will continue to grow with the support of the Sandals Foundation’s promise to expand the initiative to each of the Caribbean countries where the Foundation operates.

“Aligning with a program that has been tried and proven, we can guarantee a positive outcome. There is much focus here in the Caribbean on great athletes and structured sports such as football (a.k.a. soccer) and cricket. For this targeted age group, the focus of this program is on early stimulation and the encouragement of constructive recreational habits,” said Heidi Clarke, the Sandals Foundation’s director of programs. “Let’s Play" simply creates an opportunity for every child to experience his or her greatest potential.” 

Endorsed by Jamaica’s Ministry of Education and supported in many of the Sandals Foundation’s  adopted primary schools in Kingston, St. Mary, St. Ann, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, teachers went through two days of training during which they learned a variety of physical education routines with the use of practical items such as cones, sacks, rings, balls, mats, canes, and other items. They were also exposed to the physical and emotional benefits of exercise and methods of encouraging children to develop creativity, organization and ingenuity. 

The "Let’s Play" program is one of many initiatives supported by the Sandals Foundation, whose sole mission is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the communities in which Sandals Resorts International operates. To learn more about the "Let’s Play or other philanthropic activities of the Sandals Foundation, visitwww.sandalsfoundation.org.