Windsor School of Special Education gets 155 laptops for students
Published:Saturday | December 2, 2023 | 12:09 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
This Christmas season, 155 laptops will be distributed among students at the five campuses of the Windsor School of Special Education.
The gifts were handed over to the school on Wednesday by Food For The Poor Jamaica at the institution’s Duncan’s Pen location in Spanish Town, St Catherine.
The other Windsor School of Special Education campuses set to also benefit are located in Commodore in Linstead, St Catherine; the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon; Rectory Road in May Pen, Clarendon; and Belmont Park in Greater Portmore, St Catherine.
Kimela Jarrett-Johnstone, principal of the Windsor School of Special Education in Spanish Town, said the devices will help with the Ministry of Education and Youth and the National Education Trust’s mandate to empower students with devices under the One Laptop or Tablet Per Child initiative.
“Indeed, I am very happy this morning,” Jarrett-Johnstone said after collecting the laptops.
“We started out this academic year with our mandate, ‘Enabling and Maximizing Student’s HATS’ – HATS of course, representing students’ happiness, attitudes, talents and skills – and what a way to prove that we have started on the right footing!” she said.
Petri-Ann Irons, communications manager at Food For The Poor Jamaica, said it was a pleasure donating the laptops and laptop bags, which the charity sees as an investment in the nation’s future.
“This specific donation of laptops is aligned to Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education for all students. We are so pleased that we are able to contribute in this way to the educational landscape of Jamaica, and, ultimately, [contribute further to] national development,” Irons said.
She called on all Jamaicans to give back this festive season and bring joy to the lives of the downtrodden.
“We are in the Christmas season and I encourage others to donate to a cause this season. Whatever you can give, you would be surprised the difference that it can make in someone’s life. Maybe you are unable to donate 155 laptops, but maybe you can donate one. Maybe you can give a toy. Maybe you can give a mattress. There are so many needs out there that your contribution is definitely going to have a positive impact,” she said.