Support Jamaica's Children: Annette's Legacy Lives On

AMO Cawna Library, Kingston Jamaica

In honor of Annette Ozaltin Martin - AMO

In October of 2023, the world lost a fierce advocate for the health, welfare, and empowerment of women and children. Annette Martin Ozaltin, who dedicated her life to lifting the most vulnerable among us, crossed over the eternal bridge far too soon. Today, we honor her memory with deep gratitude and a steadfast commitment to carry forward her legacy—a legacy defined by compassion, action, and a boundless love for humanity.

Annette’s journey took her and her family to Jamaica in 2023, a nation confronting profound challenges. With widespread poverty, the highest rate of violent crime in the region, and a staggering statistic where more than half of all 10-year-olds cannot read or comprehend a simple text by the end of primary school, the need for transformative change is urgent.

In honor of Annette's enduring spirit, we begin here—at home, in Jamaica. We are resolute in our mission to invest in the future of its children, empower its women, and foster the sustainable, community-driven solutions that will help this nation overcome its challenges. Your support today will not only honor Annette’s memory but also help create a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most. Together, we can continue her work and carry forward the love she so selflessly shared with the world.

The AMO Cawna library will work in the (aptly named) Cheshire Village of St. Andrew near the town of Papine, a community designed and built to support families with disabilities. Partnering with the For the Fundamentals Lmt and the American International School of Kingston AISK , we will build an accessible library for the community and support year-round learning activities and knowledge exchange programs with AISK.

The Cawna Library is a sustainable community-based initiative centered around the United Nations’ Global Goals. Old refrigerators, that often end up in water ways or gullies as we know them as in Jamaica, are repurposed into bookcases. Then, the bookcases are packed with books and then put in high traffic areas in underserved communities for members of all ages to read, use and return. There are fridges for children, fridges for school/ text/ work books, fridges for books for adults.

Books are read on location and/or are borrowed, read and brought back. Books can also be donated year round.

Check out more stories about the Canwa Library Project on Instagram.

How It Works?

The idea is simple: to promote the transfer of knowledge and its many accompanying benefits. The fundamental objective is to get communities reading. This means they need to connect with books that are in good condition and applicable to their lives and interests. Books for children such as story books, leveled readers, school books, text books and work books are included along with a variety of books for older readers.

We invite you to become a partner in this life-changing project for the children of Jamaica.

Your tax-deductible donation will directly support children and families in need, providing essential resources and opportunities for a brighter future. In honor of Annette Martin Ozaltin’s legacy, the Martin and Ozaltin families have committed to matching every contribution made—up to our target goal—effectively TRIPLING the impact of your donation.

What does this mean? A $100 donation becomes $300. A $1,000 contribution becomes $3,000.

Together, we can make a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of Jamaica’s children and communities. Your generosity, paired with the matching funds, will amplify our collective efforts and bring us closer to transforming the future of those who need it most.

Join us in creating a legacy of hope, opportunity, and change.

*** For those considering donations of $5,000 or more, or if you're interested in making a tax-deductible contribution, please reach out to the organizer directly. We have some exciting and meaningful ways for you to get involved in our ongoing mission to build AMO libraries and make a lasting impact. Your generosity can help us create transformative resources for the children and communities we serve. We look forward to connecting with you!