GARDEN WOOD ‘BLOOMS’ WITH NEW FOOD FOR THE POOR EDUCATION FACILITY

(From right) Pastor Victor Peña, Donor Representative, Destiny City Fellowship Church of  Virginia, United States of America; Marcia Walker, Social Outreach Manager, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ); and Sharon Thomas, Principal, Garden Wood Basic School unveil the school sign at the new early childhood institution. They were participating in the official opening of the Garden Wood Basic School on Wednesday, June 12.   The school was constructed under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme which aims to build 50 and or upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence.

Garden Wood, Clarendon- June 12, 2013: A new chapter began today in the life of the north-central Clarendon farming community of Garden Wood, with the official opening of the only educational institution in the community - the new Garden Wood Basic School.It was constructed by Food For The Poor (FFP) and financed byDestiny City Fellowship Church, Virginia, United States of America.

This is the first early childhood education institution to be built in Clarendon under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence.Garden Wood Basic School is the eleventh early childhood school to be constructed / upgraded under the Programme.

Addressing participants at today’s official opening, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, announced that during this month alone the charity would be officially opening four early childhood institutions, built under the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign. She added, “By the end of June, we will officially open a total of 14 basic schools, constructed islandwide, since the Programme began 12 months ago.” 

The Garden Wood Basic School was officially opened, one day shy of one year since FFP launched its biggest initiative to support early childhood education development in Jamaica - the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Campaign. The project was set in motion at High House District, St. Catherine on June 13, 2012.

Since the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the community established the Garden Wood Basic School, it has been housed at the Church. The facility however proved challenging in terms of spacing, infrastructure for classrooms and the overall learning environment. The new school building constructed by FFP, boasts three beautifully decorated classrooms, kitchen, bathroom facilities, office, sickbay and veranda. The classrooms will also be equipped with colourful, child-friendly furniture.

“This new building and equipment will assist Garden Wood Basic in meeting many of the standards of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) as it relates to the physical environment, equipment, furnishing, health and nutrition. However, the school has other needs, which you can help to address,” said Mrs. Johnson. “We are appealing to citizens and organizations to help the school in financing the advanced training of its staff, and the erection of a perimeter fence. The school also needs the input of the community in helping to streamline its programmes and policies.”

The FFPJ Executive Director explained that such improvements are necessary, in aiding Garden Wood Basic School to meet the requirements of the ECC. Mrs. Johnson called upon the teachers, parents and community to form an ongoing partnership to help maximize the potential of all children who attend and those who will attend the Garden Wood Basic School. She impressed on the residents that the children need their attentive care, guidance and positive mentorship.

Mrs. Johnson underscored that Food For The Poor views its investment in pre-primary education as being of utmost importance in grooming youngsters for future success in academia and life skills. The FFPJ Executive Director expressed appreciation to all those who have been supporting the Jamaica 50 initiative, making special mention of the members of the Destiny City Fellowship Church.

Sharon Thomas, Principal, Garden Wood Basic School, expressed appreciation to FFP and the USA based donor for the construction and equipping of the new school. “I am so grateful and so happy. Words cannot explain how I feel with this gift of a school to the community!” exclaimed Ms. Thomas. She said the kitchen at the new school will now allow for the institution to provide cooked meals for the students, which was not possible while they were housed at the church.

The Principal recounted that many times she had to move teaching aids to facilitate worship, funerals and other events at the church. She is relieved that this will no longer be the case, and praised the new school as a “more appropriate and convenient learning environment for the children.”  Ms. Thomas expressed confidence that the improved facilities at the new school will encourage more parents from Garden Wood and its environs to send their children between 3 and 6 years old to the school.

Donor Representative, Pastor Victor Peña, Destiny City Fellowship Church, revealed in his keynote address that it took his congregation two-and-a-half years to raise the funds to finance the construction of the school, but they remained committed to the cause. Assuring the audience that “God is willing to build lives, not destroy it”, Pastor Peña declared that God had a special plan for the children and adults of the community. He presented the school with a gift of a large bible.

Pearnel Charles, Member of Parliament, North Central Clarendon, who lauded the efforts of FFP in school construction and social outreach programmes, challenged the residents to show their gratitude for the gift of the school, by taking the best care of the new facilities. “We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we appreciate what they have done. We must show our appreciation through protection and respect,” Mr. Charles urged. He appealed to parents to commit to the education of their children and their families, as education is the key to many of the ills facing Jamaica, including being a deterrent to criminality.

Among those delivering remarks at today’s event were: Pastors Dexter Dennis and Lansley Blake, school board representatives; and Pastor Wayne Palmer, Education Director, Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. The students and a parent entertained with cultural items.

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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 largestinternational relief and development organization in the United States. 

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Contact:               

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886