MEDIA RELEASE - FOOD FOR THE POOR PRESENTS BANNISTER WITH GIFT FOR PRE-PRIMARY CHILDREN

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 MEDIA RELEASE

FOOD FOR THE POOR PRESENTS BANNISTER WITH GIFT FOR PRE-PRIMARY CHILDREN

17^th School In 13 Months Opened Under FFP Jamaica 50 Programme

Kingston, Jamaica - October 31, 2013: Food For The Poor’s major gift to the people of Bannister in St. Catherine – the new Bannister New Testament Basic School - was officially opened today during a special ceremony.

17^th SCHOOL IN 13 MONTHS OPENED BY FFP

This is the seventeenth early childhood institution to be officially opened under the Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of Independence. It is the second basic school in St. Catherine to be built under the Programme. Thirteen months ago, the first school under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme was officially opened in Kingston (i.e. the St. Margarets Real Success Basic School).

The Bannister New Testament Basic School which was housed in the church since its inception 17 years ago, had to be battling an unsuitable and limited learning environment, where teachers had to be constantly moving furniture and teaching aids to make room for church activities. To add to that difficulty, when the church was under construction, and housed in an unfinished building, the school’s operation was affected by the elements of the weather.

REALIZATION OF A DREAM

Thanks to FFP, the new building for the Bannister New Testament Basic School comprises three classrooms, a sickbay, an office area, bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.  The charity also presented seven computers to the school. Delivering Remarks at today’s opening ceremony, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP, pointed out that the classrooms have also been outfitted with comfortable furniture to “help make the learning experience a more enjoyable one”. She expressed the view that the new facility would give pre-primary children an opportunity to gain education of the very highest quality: “We believe this new school is a blessing, especially as it relates to improving the level of literacy in the community.”

Mrs. Johnson expressed thanks to the Bannister New Testament Church and the people of the community for collaborating with FFP on this school building project. “I know this school is a celebration of the realization of your dream for the children of your community,” said the FFP Executive Director. She also commended the donors, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Williamson of Houston, Texas, for their generous support.

(From left) Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, Food For The Poor; Donnette Swearing, Principal, Bannister New Testament Basic School in St. Catherine; Audley Campbell, Councillor of the Old Harbour North Division and the students of Bannister New Testament Basic School are delighted to participate in the ribbon cutting exercise for the official opening of the school. The occasion was held on Thursday, October 31.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

 Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, Mrs. Johnson recommended a partnership approach by the Bannister community in dealing with that societal problem. She suggested that the church and citizens association collaborate in training the youth, and that the Bannister New Testament Basic School could be used after school hours as a skills training venue for unemployed youth.

Additionally, Mrs. Johnson proposed, “Older members of the community need to encourage youngsters who might be unemployed to be apprentices to them. Young people, please try to learn some skills, while you seek employment. By so doing, you will be expanding your skills sets and experience, while improving your quality of life.”

BE ATTENTIVE TO NATION’S CHILDREN

Pointing out that youngsters, 18 years and under, comprise 30% of Jamaica’s population of 2.7 million, Mrs. Johnson appealed to adults to be attentive to the nation’s children, their needs and interests. She warned that the nation would be in more serious trouble, if it ignored the needs of this significant cohort of our population.

“If we truly believe in Jamaica, we will always set the right examples for our children,” the FFP Executive Director asserted. “If we don’t show our children the right way, then their peers might just show them the wrong approach to life, and the negative values. Please spend time interacting with the children in your family and community and understanding them.” She urged adults to exhibit the best values and morals: such as integrity, honesty, confidence, respect, love of neighbour and self and a strong belief in hard work for achieving success.

THUMBS UP FROM PRINCIPAL, PUBLIC HEALTH & FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Donnette Swearing, Principal, Bannister New Testament Basic School, has expressed delight and appreciation to FFP for the new school. “We are proud to say we now have access to a computer room which both teachers and children are ecstatic in using to enhance learning. Children can now enjoy listening to CD-played-stories while learning new words.”

She disclosed that the new kitchen facilities have made a phenomenal difference in the lives of the students. They have also been given the thumbs up from the public health and fire departments. “We are blessed to have a furnished kitchen… We can now proudly say both the fire and public health inspectors have given us satisfactory certification,” said Ms. Swearing. “Meals are cooked and kept warm for the children, no more going back and forth to catch water to prepare meals.”

Some students of Bannister New Testament Basic School in St. Catherine and their Principal Donnette Swearing do sign language to music, as they entertain the audience at the official opening of the school on Thursday, October 31. 

ENDORSEMENTS

Addressing today’s opening ceremony, Maxine Scarlett-Campbell, Development Officer, Early Childhood Commission and Audley Campbell, Councillor of the Old Harbour North Division endorsed the school building project and commended the partners involved in the effort. “Thanks to FFP who saw the need and came onboard to partner with the Ministry of Education. Many times, the teachers were so tired and felt like giving up literally, but thanks to FFP they now have their own building which meets the requirements of the Early Childhood Commission,” stated Ms. Scarlett-Campbell.

She reminded parents to access education for their children, as education is the vehicle for achieving success in life. Meanwhile, Mr. Campbell stressed that all members of the community are beneficiaries of the new school, and should therefore protect it.

-End-

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 95% 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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Contact:
Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277
Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T: 984-5005 or 564-2886