Ackee Seed Foundation is Officially Registered & Heading to Jamaica
From the Netherlands to Trelawny
A milestone moment, a meaningful trip, and the next chapter of our work
Ackee Seed Foundation exists to use creativity as a driver of social impact development in rural Jamaica. Born in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, our first efforts were directed toward hurricane relief in the rural communities of Trelawny and it is through that work that the Foundation took shape. Since then, we have been building the infrastructure, relationships, and trust needed to grow that mission into something lasting.
We are pleased to share that this work has reached a significant milestone.
On March 4th, Ackee Seed Foundation was officially signed into existence as a registered, operating NGO. Present at the signing were Chairwoman Karla King, Treasurer David Boyd, and Secretary and Secretary Paul Heuts. Board member Kerion Brand, based in the United Kingdom, was not present on the day but is very much a part of what we are building together. This achievement has been made possible not only by the commitment of these core board members, but to everyone who has supported, donated, shared, and believed in this work from the beginning.
The Trip to Jamaica
We previously shared our plans for a small self-funded team to travel to Jamaica together. As with many things in this process, plans have evolved and we have learned to hold them with both intention and flexibility.
In July, Chairwoman Karla King will be making the trip to Jamaica personally. What began as a team visit has become something more focused: a solo research and relationship-building journey, on the ground, in the rural communities we aim to serve. For a trip centred on listening, trust-building, and understanding local realities up close, we believe this is the right approach. This allows us to build genuine connections one conversation at a time, responding thoughtfully, and working alongside communities rather than for them.
Where the Funds Will Go
We want to be clear about something: the funds raised through our GoFundMe campaign will not be going to a single destination. They will be distributed across several projects in the Trelawny area, directed toward the communities and needs identified on the ground.
Daniel Town Primary School is one of our key partners. Karla King will beparticipating in the school’s graduation ceremony in July as reflection of the relationship we have been building with the school and its leadership over recent months. A donation will be made on behalf of the Foundation in alignment with our commitment that goes back to the Art of Returning auction held in December 2025.
Trusted Advisors and Partners
Good work is rarely done alone, and we are grateful to be building this with people who genuinely know the landscape.
Among those advising us is Jan Voordouw, a dual Jamaica-Netherlands national and development professional with over 30 years of experience working across the Caribbean. Jan has worked with organisations including Cordaid, UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme, and Panos Caribbean, and currently works as an independent consultant in institutional development, community participation, and programme evaluation in Jamaica. His guidance on the ground realities and on how to operate responsibly and effectively in the Jamaican context has been invaluable.
Bringing Two Communities Together
One of the more exciting developments coming out of this trip is the early planning of a community gathering. This is an opportunity to bring together members of the Dutch community based in Jamaica and Jamaicans connected to the Netherlands, to explore how we can meaningfully leverage the connections between these two worlds.
There is a natural network of people, knowledge, and goodwill that flows between the Netherlands and Jamaica. We want to create space where that network can be put to work in service of real social impact with Ackee Seed as a connector and facilitator.
A Note on Financial Infrastructure
Transparency is a core value of this foundation, so we want to be straightforward about where things stand.
Establishing a fully operational international bank account for a cross-border NGO is a process that takes considerably more time than most people expect. We have learned this is quite standard for the organisations structured to operate across jurisdictions. The delays we encountered along the way were real, and we want to acknowledge them honestly.
What we also want to be clear about is this: we did not wait for perfect conditions to get moving. We made the decision to proceed using a dedicated account used solely for the Foundation’s transactions which is ring-fenced and managed with full accountability. Therefore, funds can be received and distributed without further delay. A full update will follow once the official Foundation account is finalised.
What We Are Looking Forward To
The July trip is, in many ways, the first full expression of what Ackee Seed Foundation was always meant to be. A bridge. A builder. A presence that shows up with genuine commitment to the rural communities in Jamaica.
We will be on the ground, meeting partners, listening to needs, and exploring how creativity can be woven into social development in Jamaica’s rural communities in a way that is sustainable and meaningful. We will be documenting the journey, and we look forward to bringing you with us.
