Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Campaign Delivers Gift of New Early Childhood Facilities to Esher in Hanover

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE

FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA 50 CAMPAIGN DELIVERS GIFT OF NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD FACILITIES TO ESHER IN HANOVER

Esher, Hanover – October 12, 2012: A major dream of the school population at Esher Full Gospel Basic School in Hanover was realized this afternoon with the official opening of a new school building, which was constructed by Food For The Poor Jamaica. This is the fourth school to be constructed under the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Campaign, which is building and or upgrading 50 early childhood educational institutions in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th year of Independence.  The new structure at Esher Full Gospel Basic School brings to two, the number of school buildings now available to that early childhood institution.

Students of the Esher Full Gospel Basic School in Hanover perform a cultural item at the official opening of the school on Friday, October 12, 2012. 

The expanded education facilities have solved the overcrowding problem and other challenges facing the school. Addressing the Official Opening Ceremony, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica disclosed that following a request from the Principal Ivalyn McInnis, the charity intervened in the life of the Esher Full Gospel Basic School at a time when the institution was “experiencing serious overcrowding problems, limited classrooms, a need for administrative facilities, and challenges with a deteriorating school infrastructure.”

She announced that the new school building constructed by FFP comprises three large classrooms (which can be subdivided into additional learning spaces), a sickbay, an office, kitchen and bathrooms. Mrs. Johnson expressed satisfaction that with the new structure, Esher Full Gospel Basic School now has the capacity and equipment to better serve the community, and the neighbouring areas of Bulls Bay, Orange Bay, Elgin Town, Haughton Court, First Hill, Dry Hill, Lucea, Lances Bay and Cove.

The FFP Executive Director congratulated the school for its track record of quality service to a generation of Jamaicans. “Our wish is that this school will be a hub of success not just for the school population, but for all the communities, it serves,” remarked Mrs. Johnson.

She issued a special challenge to parents and guardians, urging them to be more proactive in being change agents and role models for the youth. “Let me caution you that the school cannot be the only agent of moulding positive lives!” stated Mrs. Johnson. “Parents and guardians, I implore you to exemplify the positive values, behaviour and discipline, which our country needs to prosper. I encourage you to lead service-oriented lives for the benefit of your community, parish and country.”

Jacqueline Johnson (left), Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, addresses the audience during the official opening of the Esher Full Gospel Basic School in Hanover last Friday, October 12, 2012.   Listening attentively at the head table (from left) are Martin Babinec, representing the Babinec family whose donation supported the project; Dr. Mark Nicely, President Elect, Jamaica Teachers Association and Keynote Speaker; Neville Clare, Councillor, Lucea Division and Ivalyn McInnis, Principal, Esher Full Gospel Basic School. 

The FFP Executive Director appealed to citizens to refuse to settle for bad habits or mediocre achievements. “Instead, only be satisfied with excellence,” she encouraged. Mrs. Johnson expressed appreciation to the Martin Babinec family, as well as other donors and partners who have been contributing to the Jamaica 50 Campaign.

An elated Ivalyn McInnis, Principal, said the new school is a well-needed facility and would make for a more conducive learning environment for the 117 students and 6 teachers. “The new building has lifted our spirits and also made the learning environment more comfortable.  It’s really a great help to us,” the Principal declared, while pointing out that the school is now in a position to accommodate more students from the surrounding communities.

“We feel very comfortable and we will make the best use of the facilities,” Mrs. McInnnis promised.

Dr. Mark Nicely President Elect of the Jamaica Teachers Association, who was the Keynote Speaker, pointed out that the greatest return that any country will receive is what it spends on education. To this end, he has commended FFP for its extensive input in assisting with the development of the infrastructure of the island’s education sector, as well as its provision of assistance to students. Commenting on the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign and its gift of a new school to Esher, Dr. Nicely added: “It is refreshing that we can stand here to participate in an initiative that seeks to get it right at the start. We are thankful to Food For The Poor and the donors for this initiative that will seek to transform our country.”

The JTA President Elect reminded the country that every child who will pass through the new school will one day replace the adult members of our society, so we must ensure that “ they become positive role models in our society.”

Jacqueline Johnson (left, at the door), Executive Director of Food For The Poor Jamaica, cuts the ribbon to signal the official opening of the Esher Full Gospel Basic School in Hanover on Friday, October 12, 2012.  Also participating in the ceremony, with Esher students are (from left): Neville Clare, Councillor, Lucea Division; Ivalyn McInnis, Principal, Esher Full Gospel Basic School; Martin Babinec and Mrs. Babinec, representing the Babinec family whose donation supported the project and Dr. Mark Nicely, President Elect, Jamaica Teachers Association who was the keynote speaker at the event.  

He cautioned that the country needs to be proactively nurturing persons who will become future leaders of high moral standing, and not those who are bent on criminality: “The fact is that we have no more room or we need no more of the current gun men in our country. We need no replacements for the current rapists in our country. We need no replacement for school robbers and we need no replacement of the current scammers.” Dr. Nicely reiterated the need for adults to instil positive principles in their children.

Donor Representative, Martin Babinec told the audience that his family’s partnership with FFP was done in honour of his late father William Martin Babinec of Blue Falls, New York, US, who was a devout Christian. He recalled that his father “walked the talk” on exemplary living by being dedicated to his faith, loving life and exhibiting compassion to his fellowmen.

Other speakers at today’s event included: Viola Frazer, Early Childhood Development Officer, Region 4; Neville Clare, Councillor, Lucea Division; and Lydia Redding, Beneficiary, FFP Educational Programme.

The Jamaica 50 Campaign is part of FFP’s ongoing support to the socio-economic challenges in Jamaica and the 16 other countries where the charity operates. Since its inception 30 years ago, the charity has made significant contributions to the education system through financial grants to needy students, distribution of school furniture and general school supplies, construction of basic schools and replacement of pit latrines with flush toilets. To date, FFP has upgraded the sanitation facilities in 50 educational institutions. Outside of the Jamaica 50 Campaign, since 2006, FFP has constructed 51 basic schools across the island.

Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005