Reported by: Paris Wright
On Saturday, February 28, students of the University of Technology, Jamaica fanned out across the island for their annual Tag Drive, a flagship fundraising initiative organised by the UTech Students’ Union.
The long-running outreach programme mobilises students to travel throughout Jamaica, appealing to members of the public for donations in support of charitable causes and individuals in need. This year’s proceeds will go toward assisting Herbert Morrison Technical High School and Mount Grace Primary and Junior High School, both of which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Melissa and have yet to fully recover. Organisers say the
support will help the schools continue rebuilding efforts and restore critical facilities for students and staff.
Six routes were dispatched from Kingston, with teams assigned to multiple parishes. At busy intersections, in town centres and within residential communities, students approached motorists and pedestrians, explaining the purpose of the drive and encouraging contributions to aid the affected institutions. Armed with collection sheets and donation tags, they worked steadily to engage the public and raise awareness about the schools’ ongoing needs.
Although the exercise began later than scheduled, participants remained committed to ensuring the initiative maintained its islandwide reach. Throughout the day, teams pressed on to complete their designated routes, demonstrating resilience and teamwork despite the delayed start.
The drive concluded at Margaritaville Ocho Rios, where students gathered to wrap up the day’s activities. Organisers maintain that the Tag Drive continues to play a vital role in student service at the university, strengthening ties between the campus community and national charitable efforts while delivering meaningful assistance to institutions still rebuilding.