Older Adults at the Centre of Enterprise
A BOLD national initiative aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Jamaica’s senior citizens has officially been launched, signalling a new chapter in how the country views ageing, productivity, and economic participation.
The Senior Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP), an islandwide training initiative spearheaded by Golden Designs with funding support from the Digicel Foundation, was officially launched on Thursday, April 9, at Regardless (The Manley Centre) in St. Andrew. The programme targets more than 200 older adults across Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Manchester, and St. James.
Funded through the Digicel Foundation’s Salute 21 Grant under its Silver Economy initiative, the programme forms part of a strategic effort to empower older adults through economic participation. The grant programme commemorates Digicel Foundation’s 21st anniversary and supports projects focused on special needs, digital literacy, and opportunities within the growing senior economy.
Speaking at the launch, Miguel “Steppa” Williams, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Development at the Digicel Foundation, underscored the immense value seniors continue to bring to Jamaica’s development.
“Older adults bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that is of high value and that which should be applauded,” Williams said. “The Foundation is proud and honoured to be partnering with senior citizens,” he added.
Golden Designs was one of three organisations awarded funding under the Silver Economy initiative.
Delivering the keynote address, Collette D. Robinson, Senior Director of Social Development at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), highlighted the urgent demographic realities shaping the country.
Jamaica is experiencing a major demographic shift as its population ages rapidly. Approximately 380,000 older adults currently live in Jamaica, representing about 9 point 5 per cent of the population, a figure projected to rise to 16 per cent by 2050.
“People are living longer, and we have far more centenarians now than we had just a few years ago,” Robinson noted. “This changing population structure has implications for income security, family support systems, and national productivity.”
She warned that the risk of old-age poverty remains very real, particularly as family structures change and fewer extended relatives live within the same household.
The Senior Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to respond to these realities by equipping seniors with practical skills and business knowledge that can generate income and independence.
Participants will undergo four weeks of hands-on training in traditional textile arts, including crochet, macramé, appliqué, and embroidery. Each session combines practical craft training with lessons in entrepreneurial thinking, marketing, and pricing.
Beyond the training phase, participants will benefit from one year of structured business coaching, covering areas such as sourcing raw materials, customer acquisition, pricing strategies, and managing small enterprises.
Founder of Golden Designs, Shelly-Ann Thompson, said the programme is rooted in a powerful belief about the role of seniors in society.
“Golden Designs was born out of a simple but urgent conviction: that Jamaica’s senior citizens are not a population to be managed but a resource to be unleashed,” Thompson said.
She noted that with the right partnerships and support, senior entrepreneurs can scale production, reduce costs through bulk purchasing, and expand opportunities for other older adults.
Golden Designs also operates several initiatives supporting active ageing, including Art Class for Seniors, Digital Literacy Workshops, Creative Ageing Coaching and Consultancy, and the Caregivers Masterclass.
Supporting partners for the SEP include Regardless (The Manley Centre), The Grand Begonia Hotel, and National Bakery.
The launch also featured remarks from Lead Facilitator Dr. Verona Barnes, a testimonial from programme participant Angela Mitchell, and a musical performance by senior citizen Marjorie Johnson.
Interested senior citizens in the target parishes may contact Golden Designs at goldendesigns60@gmail.com for participation details.
Tell us in the comments, what are your preferred textile products? Crochet? Macrame?
A BOLD national initiative aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Jamaica’s senior citizens has officially been launched, signalling a new chapter in how the country views ageing, productivity, and economic participation.
The Senior Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP), an islandwide training initiative spearheaded by Golden Designs with funding support from the Digicel Foundation, was officially launched on Thursday, April 9, at Regardless (The Manley Centre) in St. Andrew. The programme targets more than 200 older adults across Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Manchester, and St. James.
Funded through the Digicel Foundation’s Salute 21 Grant under its Silver Economy initiative, the programme forms part of a strategic effort to empower older adults through economic participation. The grant programme commemorates Digicel Foundation’s 21st anniversary and supports projects focused on special needs, digital literacy, and opportunities within the growing senior economy.
Speaking at the launch, Miguel “Steppa” Williams, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Development at the Digicel Foundation, underscored the immense value seniors continue to bring to Jamaica’s development.
“Older adults bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that is of high value and that which should be applauded,” Williams said. “The Foundation is proud and honoured to be partnering with senior citizens,” he added.
Golden Designs was one of three organisations awarded funding under the Silver Economy initiative.
Delivering the keynote address, Collette D. Robinson, Senior Director of Social Development at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), highlighted the urgent demographic realities shaping the country.
Jamaica is experiencing a major demographic shift as its population ages rapidly. Approximately 380,000 older adults currently live in Jamaica, representing about 9 point 5 per cent of the population, a figure projected to rise to 16 per cent by 2050.
“People are living longer, and we have far more centenarians now than we had just a few years ago,” Robinson noted. “This changing population structure has implications for income security, family support systems, and national productivity.”
She warned that the risk of old-age poverty remains very real, particularly as family structures change and fewer extended relatives live within the same household.
The Senior Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to respond to these realities by equipping seniors with practical skills and business knowledge that can generate income and independence.
Participants will undergo four weeks of hands-on training in traditional textile arts, including crochet, macramé, appliqué, and embroidery. Each session combines practical craft training with lessons in entrepreneurial thinking, marketing, and pricing.
Beyond the training phase, participants will benefit from one year of structured business coaching, covering areas such as sourcing raw materials, customer acquisition, pricing strategies, and managing small enterprises.
Founder of Golden Designs, Shelly-Ann Thompson, said the programme is rooted in a powerful belief about the role of seniors in society.
“Golden Designs was born out of a simple but urgent conviction: that Jamaica’s senior citizens are not a population to be managed but a resource to be unleashed,” Thompson said.
She noted that with the right partnerships and support, senior entrepreneurs can scale production, reduce costs through bulk purchasing, and expand opportunities for other older adults.
Golden Designs also operates several initiatives supporting active ageing, including Art Class for Seniors, Digital Literacy Workshops, Creative Ageing Coaching and Consultancy, and the Caregivers Masterclass.
Supporting partners for the SEP include Regardless (The Manley Centre), The Grand Begonia Hotel, and National Bakery.
The launch also featured remarks from Lead Facilitator Dr. Verona Barnes, a testimonial from programme participant Angela Mitchell, and a musical performance by senior citizen Marjorie Johnson.
Interested senior citizens in the target parishes may contact Golden Designs at goldendesigns60@gmail.com for participation details.
Tell us in the comments, what are your preferred textile products? Crochet? Macrame?
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