SUNWING OPENS EARLY-CHILDHOOD SCHOOL - The Gleaner - November 18, 2015

THE OPENING OF SPICY HILL EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTITUTE’S NEW BUILDING: Sunwing Foundation of Canada in partnership with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and FFP Canada recently pooled their resources to fund and construct a new school building for the Spicy Hill Early Childhood Institution, which was officially opened on November 13. Sharing in the ribbon cutting exercise with students and teachers were (from right) Angella Williams, principal; Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education; Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director, FFP Canada; Kerry-Ann Quallo Casserly, representing Sunwing Foundation; Sylvain Fabi, Canadian High Commissioner; Donavan White, Councillor and M. Parry Shirley, Chief Development Officer with the Ministry of Education.

Janet Silvera
Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

LESS than two years after opening its first Jamaican hotel, the Sunwing Travel Group, through its Sunwing Foundation, has funded the construction of an early-childhood institution in Trelawny.

The school, Spicy Hill Early Childhood Institution, was officially opened by Minister of Education, Reverend Ronald Thwaites; Canadian High Commission, Sylvain Fabi and Food For The Poor's Samantha Mahfood recently.

Some 85 students are enrolled at the facility, which was built in collaboration with Food For The Poor.

"Our plan is to support youth, education and training initiatives, which is the key, if we are to effect positive change in these communities," Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly, Director of Sales at Royalton White Sands in Trelawny told the gathering.

The Sunwing Travel Group has a strong affiliation with Royalton White Sands and is the hotel's exclusive partner in Canada. Quallo-Casserly pointed out that by making youth development central to the mission of the charitable initiative, the Sunwing Foundation hopes not only to improve the quality of the children of today, but also to empower them to succeed, providing them with positive aspirations for tomorrow, therefore, also strengthening their communities for many years to come.

The early childhood education institution also caters to the children of many Royalton White Sands staff.

According to the hotel executive, none of this would have been made possible without the hard work of the entire team at Food For The Poor, both in Jamaica and in Canada.

"Thanks to Samantha Mahfood and all her colleagues and partners, including Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation. Food For The Poor has been pivotal in the construction of 23 schools across the island in just three years, and have made a significant contribution to the Jamaica 50 Campaign launched in 2012 to construct 50 new schools to coincide with the island's 50th anniversary. So we feel honoured to have collaborated with such a key partner in improving Jamaicans education."

QUICK CONSTRUCTION

Construction on the school commenced in April this year, with the classrooms ready to be occupied by September.

"When the Foundation learnt of the need for a school right here in Trelawny, they jumped at the chance to be involved," Quallo-Casserly revealed, stating that the cherry on the cake was to learn that involvement in this project would mean an enrichment of the quality of education for Jamaican children, which is so close to the Foundation's goals.

The children were also recipients of books from Books Give Us Wings, a Toronto-based charity run by Jamaica-born teacher, Myrna Gabbidon.

"Books Give UIs Wings seeks to promote early literacy by ensuring that young children have their own reading books to take home and enjoy with their family," Quallo-Casserly stated.

GRATEFUL CHILDREN: Students from Spicy Hill Early Childhood Institution entertain (from right) Kerry-Ann Quallo Casserly, representative of Sunwing Foundation; Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director of Food For The Poor Canada; The Honourable Reverend Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education and Sylvain Fabi, Canadian High Commissioner during the handing over ceremony of their new school building on November 13.

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING FOR SPICY HILL EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTITUTION: Sunwing Foundation of Canada in partnership with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and FFP Canada recently pooled their resources to fund the construction a new school building for the Spicy Hill Early Childhood Institution. The new building was officially handed over on November 13. Here, students, teachers, community members and representatives of Sunwing Foundation pose for a group photo moments after the new building was handed over. Students also received bag packs with reading books from Sunwing during the ceremony.