HIGH HOUSE BASIC TINY TOTS ENTERTAIN AUDIENCE: Some students of High House Basic School do a dramatic rendition of a poem at the official opening of their institution on Thursday, February 7, 2013. Among those enjoying the performance of the tiny tots are (from right seated at the head table): Susan Moore, Director – Recipient Services, Food For The Poor; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor; Kevin Carges, Founder Eight 4 World Hope; Mayor of Spanish Town Councillor Norman Scott; Yvet Dennis, Senior Education Officer and Rosalyn Gayle, Principal, High House Basic School.
Spanish Town, St. Catherine - February 7, 2013: Food For The Poor
(FFP) today officially opened the High House Basic School in St. Catherine,
which is the seventh early childhood institution to be built by the charity,
since the launch of its Jamaica 50 Campaign seven months ago. The Campaign is
aimed at building / upgrading 50 basic schools in 50 months, in celebration of
Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
The new High House Basic School has three classrooms, a sickbay, an office for
the teachers, kitchen and bathrooms.
It was built on lands donated by the Sugar Transformation Unit. Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor
(FFP), announced at the opening ceremony that the institution, which has a population of
just over 40 students, can now accommodate up to 60.
It is a far cry from the former High House Basic School building, which
was a derelict makeshift structure, had inadequate ventilation, was overcrowded, deficient in classroom space, and lacking
in adequate kitchen and bathroom facilities.
HIGH HOUSE BASIC TINY TOTS ENTERTAIN AUDIENCE: Some students of High House Basic School do a dramatic rendition of a poem at the official opening of their institution on Thursday, February 7, 2013. Among those enjoying the performance of the tiny tots are (from right seated at the head table): Susan Moore, Director – Recipient Services, Food For The Poor; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor; Kevin Carges, Founder Eight 4 World Hope; Mayor of Spanish Town Councillor Norman Scott; Yvet Dennis, Senior Education Officer and Rosalyn Gayle, Principal, High House Basic School.
Mr.
Mahfood expressed the hope that the new facility will increase access to early childhood education, for the youth of High
House, McCook’s Pen, Innswood and as far as Old Harbour. Pointing out that the
children now had a wonderful and safe place to learn and play, he encouraged
the community to take care of the school.
The FFP Chairman urged parents and other adults of the
community, to see the school as a stepping-stone to improving their lives: “Our
wish is that the facility will also be a hub for training in parental skills,
vocational training, and community meetings.”
Mr. Mahfood expressed appreciation and
commendation to the donors, Eight 4 World Hope, for their substantial
contribution and generosity of spirit.
He also challenged corporate businesses and individual Jamaicans to lend
their support to the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign: “I want to extend an open
invitation to corporate Jamaica. You can donate to the construction of a school
of your choice or a school in your area.”
Keynote Speaker at the event, Kevin Carges, Founder of the
North-America-based voluntary organization Eight 4 World Hope, which financed
the project, described the new basic school as “a dream come true.” Mr. Carges
reported that some years ago he had recognised the need for an improved basic
school in High House while on a visit to the island. At that time, he took a
decision that his organization would assist Food For The Poor in making the new
school a reality. He commended the High House community for its desire to
improve the early childhood experience for their children.
An emotional Kevin Carges told the gathering at today’s function, that
he was delighted to help in making a change in High House: “Thank you for
sharing with me your commitment. Thank you for welcoming me into your country
and thank you for allowing me to assist.” He assured the community that they
were in the “hearts and prayers” of members of his organization.
Rosalyn Gayle, Principal, High House Basic School expressed appreciation on behalf of
the school community for the new facilities, provided by FFP. She also
presented the Sugar Transformation Unit and Eight 4 World Hope with tokens of
appreciation on behalf of her school. In an interview, Denise Collins, mother
of two boys at the school – a five year old and a three year old, could not
contain her joy with the new facilities and furniture for the children. “The
place is so nice, clean and wonderful,” she declared. “I know many parents who
did not want to send their children to the school because it was overcrowded
and in a bad condition, will now send them to the new school.”
Endorsements for the multi-partnership approach in building High House
Basic School have also come from Mayor of Spanish Town Councillor Norman Scott
and Yvet Dennis, Senior Education Officer. Reiterating the need to “start them
right, make them bright”, Mayor Scott opined that the improved school facility
would mold and guide the children in a positive direction. The Senior Education
Officer cautioned parents to be involved in all levels of their children’s
education, if they wanted them to excel academically.
Among participants in the
ceremony were Susan James–Casserly, Project Manager to Jamaica – FFP Inc;
Clayton Hall, President, Jamaica Teachers Association; Tracey-Ann Morgan-Smith,
Regional Supervisor, Early Childhood Commission; Charleen Higgins, Bernard
Lodge Sugar Dependent Area, Delroy Umrough, Monitoring Officer, Monymusk Sugar
Region and Michael Ulett of the Social Development Commission. Several
representatives of the High House Basic School Parent Teachers Association and
Eight 4 World Hope also participated in the opening ceremony.
Ground was broken for the High House Basic School
on June 13 last year, marking the launch of the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign. The 50 basic
schools are being built/ upgraded in communities where the Early Childhood
Commission, in consultation with Food For The Poor, has identified the most
dire needs for pre-primary facilities. The Jamaica 50 initiative is one of the
ongoing solutions by Food For The Poor, to the socio-economic challenges facing
our nation. The charity also provides financial grants to students, as well as
furniture and school supplies to educational institutions.
Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the
largest charity organization in the country. Food For The Poor Inc.,
located in Florida, USA, was named by The
Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international
relief and development organization in the United States. It is an
interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions
of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides
emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials,
homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise
development assistance, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to
programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com
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Contacts:
Erica
James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277
Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T: 984-5005 or 564-2886
