Stakeholders beaming as construction of two-storey block begins at Christel House
Published:Thursday | May 2, 2024 | 12:11 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Christel House Jamaica (CHJ) has officially launched a second phase of development for its tuition-free school.
Sally Porteous, co-founder and national ambassador of CHJ, told journalists during the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at the Twickenham Park, St Catherine-based institution that the J$508 million project will see the construction of a two-storey secondary school block that will accommodate grades seven to13.
The high school block is expected to host 420 pupils and will have its construction completed by April 2025, at which point enrolment will begin.
All grade levels will have two classrooms, each consisting of approximately 30 pupils, together with a teacher and an assistant teacher.
Porteous added that the children start at age five and stay with the CHJ family until age 18.
Afterward they will enter a five-year post-graduation programme provided by Christel House which offers financial, academic, and career-oriented assistance to its students to transition to college, apprenticeships, and the workplace.
In her address, Porteous added that this “state-of-the-art” education facility would serve as “a beacon of hope” that will provide “word-class education”.
“The new campus will not only be a physical space for learning, but a place where dreams are nurtured, and potential realised. It will be a hub of innovation, creativity, and excellence where our children from all walks of life will have access to holistic education that prepares them for success in the 21st century,” she added.
For his part, Bart Peterson, president and chief executive officer of Christel House International, said that the organisation loved Jamaica and desired to “continue to grow in Jamaica”.
CHJ opened its doors in August 2020 during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, it serves a student population of over 350 coming from nine underprivileged St Catherine communities who are below the poverty level.
By 2031, the institution hopes to have 840 enrolled students.
AIM TO TRANSFORM LIVES
The mission of CHJ is to transform lives by removing barriers to education in order to break the cycle of poverty.
Peterson continued that through the various partnerships that CHJ has forged, they have been able to make a difference in the lives of students, and by extension, their families.
“We are here to stay,” he declared.
The late American philanthropist Christel Dehaan made it all possible by founding Christel House International in 1998 as a means of using her financial power to bring about transformation and intergenerational advancement.
CHJ is one of the nine schools Dehaan established worldwide, with other locations in the United States, Mexico, South Africa, and India.
Each school is provided with free transformation; daily breakfast and lunch; preventative and acute healthcare; uniforms, books, and supplies; social services, and enrichment activities.
In his remarks, Councillor Norman Scott, the mayor of Spanish Town, praised CHJ and the work they have done, calling it “game changing”.
He continued that their services to the troubled Spanish Town communities, like Central Village, were remarkable as it was transforming the locale and Jamaica at large into a “total different place”.
During her speech, Fayval Williams, minister of education and youth, hailed the dedication of all staff members and the institution’s operations as being nothing short of remarkable.
“Christel House Jamaica is not just a school. It is a symbol of optimism, a sanctuary of learning, and a catalyst for positive change in our community. By providing comprehensive support ... and working closely with parents, Christel House is empowering students to break free from the chains of poverty and charter a course towards a better tomorrow,” she said.
Danielle Soares, a grade five student of CHJ who gave the vote of thanks, expressed her gratitude to Christel House International for seeing the need to establish such “an extraordinary school” in Jamaica and stated how much she enjoyed her time at the institution.