Representatives from various schools and NGOs show off the cheques received for the various Bravo and ACTION projects completed at their institutions last year. Sharing the occasion are Corporate Services and Government Affairs Manager Leo Lambert (second row - fifth right and Community Relations Officer Natalee Irving (second row - second right). - Photo Caption GEORGE HENRY

As bauxite giant Jamalco continues to reach out to communities through voluntary service, the company recently handed over cheques valued at $4.75 million to schools and other NGOs for its Bravo and Action projects completed in 2012.

The cheques handed over represented the second batch of cheques to be presented to volunteers since the start of 2013. The first set of grants, totalling $3 million, were presented in January at the launch of the 2013 Volunteer Programme.

Corporate Services and Government Affairs Manager at Jamalco Leo Lambert, while speaking at the handover ceremony, congratulated the volunteers for what he said was the great job that they continued to do to make a difference in the lives of others.

"You are the real deal. You make it happen, and if you continue to shine in your corner and I in mine, together we can make a big difference," said Lambert.

Lambert said if communities were going to be better, and if we were going to grow responsible young people, then we must take an interest in their development. He added that by doing so, we would be making an investment in our own retirement.

Stressing that the communities that we shaped now would be the ones in which we retired, Lambert urged the volunteers to reclaim and build better communities by volunteering their time. He urged volunteers present to use whatever time available to them and to make a difference to at least one person's life.

Principal of Clarendon College in Chapleton in Clarendon, David Wilson, who responded on behalf of the recipients, expressed appreciation for the over $4 million that was donated, saying that it would assist with the building of communities.

"We appreciate the fact that Alcoa has found the time to invest in our communities, and I hope that these funds will help to build flourishing communities," said the principal.

Last year, some 350 Jamalcoans volunteered under various Alcoa Foundation-sponsored programmes, including Bravo and Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighbourhoods (ACTION).

Since the start of 2013, some 95 employees have already signed up to do voluntary work under the company's sponsored programmes.