'Godsend' help to Christiana school

Russians, Germans and residents of several other countries joined hands at the Bryce Primary School in Christiana, Manchester, last Friday as the charity group, Projects Abroad Jamaica, celebrated community day by giving the facility a well-needed facelift.

Some 20 volunteers gathered at the school as the Projects Abroad Jamaica celebrated its seventh anniversary, by improving the infrastructure at the facility and share a little about their respective cultures with the students.

Country director for Project Abroad Jamaica, Dr Bridgette Barrett, told The Sunday Gleaner that this was one of several projects completed with the aid of international volunteers over the past seven years.

"We were here before and came back because there was more to be done, but we have completed projects that varied from teaching to health care and community development," said Barrett, as she pointed to the freshly painted walls at the school.

"We've also expanded into St Elizabeth and St James, because we have basically run out of places in Mandeville to place our volunteers, so hopefully we'll have many more projects like this across the country very soon."

Principal of Bryce Primary, Wesley Baker, described the volunteers as "a godsend for the school".

"This project really means a lot because it's been about four years now the school has not been painted because we just didn't have the money, and to see that the volunteer group came in and bought paint with their own money is really appreciated," said Baker.

For grade-six student Zahra Williams, the day with the volunteers and the work they did was impressive.

"The colours really fit the school and make the school look more pleasant, and they are really nice people, they really make me think that when I grow up I would like to volunteer to paint a school as well, because I would be doing something great and contributing to benefit others," said Zahra.