FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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NEW START: The Andrew Mahfood (left) chaired Food For the Poor Jamaica, in association with Kind Hearts Limited (members are in yellow), recently led the upgrading of the early childhood educational fabric of Lluidas Vale, St. Catherine, with the construction of an entirely new school structure for the Top Hill Basic School in the community. Beside Mahfood is John Golding, Principal of Top Hill Primary School. The work done for the Top Hill Basic School serves as the second collaboration involving Food For the Poor Jamaica and Kind Hearts Limited. The two organisations first worked on the funding needed for the construction of the D. Franks Early Childhood Institute in Manchester, which was officially opened in September 2012.
Lluidas Vale, St. Catherine – August 15,
2013: Food For the Poor Jamaica, in association with Kind
Hearts Limited, has improved the early childhood educational fabric of Lluidas Vale, St. Catherine, with the
construction of an entirely new structure for the Top Hill Basic School in the
community.
The work done for the Top Hill Basic School, serves as
the second collaboration involving Food For the Poor Jamaica and Kind Hearts
Limited. The two organisations first worked on the funding needed for the
construction of the D. Franks Early Childhood Institute in Manchester, which
was officially opened in September 2012.
Ms. Sonia McKenzie Chambers, Principal of Top
Hill Basic School expressed gratitude for the new school building:
“I have been working under very difficult
and deplorable conditions for a very long time just to ensure that the children
get the right start. This dedication
ceremony marks an end to that period because the future for Top Hill Basic
School looks brighter now. I must say
thanks to Food For The Poor, Kind Hearts Limited, the Top Hill Primary School,
as well as our MP and Councillor for making this all possible.”
The new infrastructure for the early childhood educational institution
includes appropriate amenities, which regrettably the school did not have
before, such as an independent bathroom facility, a suitable sickbay for
students, office space, and a kitchen facility.
Due to the lack of these facilities, community residents were reluctant
to enrol their children in the institution. The school was housed in a section
of the Top Hill Pentecostal Church of God.
Fortunately for the residents of Lluidas Vale and surrounding environs,
the construction of a new school structure will lead to better and easier access
to educational opportunities for their children.
During his remarks at the Dedication Ceremony, Andrew Mahfood, Chairman
of Food For The Poor underscored the role of
education in the lives of children:
“Education is very important to us at Food For The Poor and is the key
to the development of a child’s values and morals. This gave birth to our Jamaica 50 Campaign, which was launched to
build and upgrade 50 schools in 50 months.
So far, 15 schools have been constructed and officially opened under
this project and Top Hill Basic School will represent the 16th. We thank Kind Hearts Limited for their
sacrifice in fundraising and building this school for the community of Top
Hill. Food For The Poor is here to
support you with any future projects.”
Christina Lechler, Director of Kind Hearts
Limited, also spoke on the work done for the school. She noted that:
“The community of Top Hill is
such a peaceful and warm area. When we
came and saw the conditions at the school, we wanted to give our support and
further add to the development of this community, by helping with the education
of these students. Special thanks to
the Member of Parliament, who, through the Constituency Development Fund,
donated a significant sum to assist with this project. Without Food For The Poor, we would not have
been able to complete this school.
Thanks also to the FFP contractors who worked with us for the past two
days to build this school. We ask the
community to take care of it, be proud of it because education is very
important and the key to providing everything that these children will need.”
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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact:
Dominic Bell
or Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740, 478-5624 or 564-5277
Petri-Ann
Henry, Food For The Poor, T: 984-5005
or 564-2886
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