What We Do

First Meal Matters: The Breakfast Club

Children in schools across Jamaica go hungry every day. We're starting with one: Falmouth Primary School. As 1-1 Coco grows, our intention is to reach more schools, feeding one school at a time, so that each community receives the attention, resources, and quality of programme it deserves before we expand to the next.

Morning hunger creates a barrier to opportunity, holding young people back from getting good grades and building the skills that set them up for life. When a child arrives at school hungry, it becomes much harder for them to learn, play, take part in lessons, and build friendships.

Research consistently shows that children who attend school without breakfast face significant disadvantages. Hunger affects their ability to concentrate, engage in lessons, and manage their behaviour. It can also impact emotional regulation, attendance, and overall academic performance.

The Breakfast Club provides a nutritious, welcoming start to the day; supports working families with early drop-off options; promotes better learning outcomes by ensuring children are alert and ready to learn; and fosters social interaction and a sense of community before the school day begins.

This initiative is not just about food, it's about equity, dignity, and giving every child the foundation they need to succeed. By removing the barrier of hunger, we create a level playing field for all our pupils, regardless of their background.

Together, we can ensure that no child starts their day on an empty stomach.

Youth Entrepreneurship Activities

This programme is for young people who have a business or social enterprise idea. Our aim is to work with them to refine their goals and create opportunities to build and grow the business of their choice. We are passionate about supporting ambitious and talented young people to maximise their impact and accelerate their lives and career paths.

Our programme is based on the belief that not all students will take, or want to take, the pathway through to university. We believe entrepreneurship is a genuine alternative route to success, and we present it as a feasible career path for building and creating one's own business.

We work with young people to get their business or social enterprise ready to launch through interactive workshops and one-to-one mentoring support, including refining plans to match their own entrepreneurial skills and qualities; testing ideas among peers and industry experts; advising on dealing with challenges, assessing risks, and avoiding the pitfalls of starting a business; connecting participants to other entrepreneurs who share their experiences; designing a business plan and exploring the potential market using recognised tools and techniques; and applying sales, negotiation, and service design strategies relevant to their business.

Community Education & Empowerment

Grassroots outreach campaigns to raise awareness among families about the value of education, while building a culture of shared responsibility, collective giving, and community development.

Educating Children

"Labour for learning before you grow old, for learning is better than silver or gold. Silver and gold will vanish away but a good education will never decay!"

Jamaicans all around the world remember this gem, taught throughout basic schools. It reminds us of a fundamental truth: education is the most valuable inheritance we can give our children.

Every child deserves access to the foundations of quality education: basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills that serve as the building blocks for a lifetime of learning and opportunity.

Why Education Matters. The lack of education has far-reaching consequences on the overall quality of a person's life. Education is more than acquiring knowledge; it is a process of self-building and a tool for enhancing an individual's ability to make sound economic and life decisions. Without it, people lack the ability to make high-quality decisions for their lives and futures, hindering long-term progress for individuals and communities alike.

How 1-1 Coco Supports Education. We seek sponsorships for educational resources, school supplies, and learning materials; develop community programmes that promote the value of education; and encourage donors to give relevant educational gifts. Education is not just about preparing children for exams, it's about preparing them for life.

Empowering Youths

"It only takes a spark, to get a fire going. And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing…."

Investing in our youths is vital to the growth of our communities, and that's what igniting their spark is about: helping them discover and become the person they would like to be.

Education as Empowerment. We empower youths by providing quality education and skills training that prepare them to transition confidently into meaningful employment or entrepreneurship.

Our Approach. 1-1 Coco believes in giving young people more power through education, information, coaching and counselling, and opportunities.

Building Tomorrow's Leaders. When we invest in youth empowerment, we're not just changing individual lives, we're building the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change makers who will transform Jamaica.

Ready to help us educate and empower Jamaica's children and youth? Your "one coco" makes a lasting difference.

DONATE TODAY

Projects

Our projects represent our vision for creating meaningful, lasting change within the community. As funding becomes available, each initiative is carefully planned and delivered in line with our mission and values. By focusing on one project at a time, we ensure every initiative receives the attention, care, and resources it deserves before we move on to the next.

First Meal Matters Breakfast Club — our flagship pilot project at Falmouth Primary School (see above).

Our Impact

The Stories Behind the Movement

Every child fed, every young entrepreneur trained, every family supported, this is what "one one coco full basket" looks like in real life. As our Breakfast Club and Youth Entrepreneurship programmes get underway, this is where you'll find their stories, in their own words.

Coming soon: stories from Falmouth. Our first cohort of students begins this term. We'll be sharing their experiences here, with full care and consent, as our programmes take root.

Filling the Basket Together (Thank You Wall)

Every name on this wall helped make the stories above possible.

We're proud to recognise the individuals, families, and organisations whose generosity is building this movement from the ground up. With permission, we celebrate our supporters here, from first-time one coco donors to major partners.