Hurricane Melissa has ravaged the St. Elizabeth community. Help us recover, donate now.
Empowering Jamaica's Youth
Building pathways for bright futures
St. Mary's Youth Association is a grassroots family and community-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit expanding access to education, mentorship, and opportunity across Jamaica.
Our Mission
To promote educational, artistic and social development for youth in rural Jamaica and to help them build connections across the global diaspora.
Our History
Over 40 years ago, while returning for vacation, the founders of St. Mary’s Youth Association (SMYA) discovered a very disturbing fact in their hometown of Dalton, St. Elizabeth: numerous children were not attending school because of lack of resources.
As a result, a group was formed to bring attention to the matter and to garner help from other past residents who now reside abroad.
Named after the local St. Mary’s Church and school,St. Mary's Youth Association U.S.A. Inc. was formalized as a charitable organization in New York State in October 1985, and subsequently attained 501(c)(3) status in 1987.
The organization’s first achievement was placing 70 children back in school on its Feeding and Books Assistance Program at St. Mary’s All Age School. In addition, the organization donated many scholarships to students who passed common entrance for high schools in St. Elizabeth.
Over the decades, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Culture in Kingston, SMYA has made trips to Jamaica providing resources from books to appliances in educational institutions across the parish of St. Elizabeth including:
- St. Mary’s All Age School
- Rose Hall All Age School
- Epping Forest All Age School
- Pepper All Age School
- Hopeton All Age School
- Potsdam Community Basic School
In 2003, SMYA founded The Dalton Resource Center, a flagship location in Dalton situated on the property of the beloved late Harold and Myrtle Clacken. The Clackens had always been known to give back to others, their land in Dalton providing housing and care for many children far and wide over the years including many SMYA members. This center and association serves as a continuation of their love and work in the community.
Since its creation, The Dalton Resource Center has been exceptionally active in the Dalton community providing:
- The first local lending library
- After school tutoring services
- Reading Classes for children and adults
- Field Trips to Montego Bay
- Weekend Schooling
- Summer Vacation Bible School
- Urgent Hurricane & Natural Disaster Relief Support
- Clothes & Personal Care Items
- Parenting Workshops
- Poetry Writing Courses
- Art Workshops
- Student Scholarships
Myrtle Clacken stamping library books for The Dalton Center
SMYA continues to raise funds and collect books, and other non-perishable items after natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms that can cause damage to schools and communities. Computers, books, financial assistance, sports equipment, personal care items, clothing, and other items are continually donated to those seeking assistance.