Gore Family Foundation hosts volunteer workshop

There's more to being a volunteer than meets the eye.

The willing participants found that out at the Gore Family Foundation's (GFF) Volunteers' Workshop held at the KBC Learning Centre on Thursday, February 11. The GFF reached out to present and past scholarship recipients (awarded by Gore Developments Limited) from The Mico University College, University of the West Indies and University of Technology, encouraging them to attend along with other like-minded individuals. And they did not disappoint.

All in attendance were ably informed by Angela Bennett of the KBC Learning Centre, a key associate with whom the Foundation works closely, regarding what being a volunteer at any and all of the GFF's basic schools really entails.

18 participants

Christine Gore, director of the Foundation, welcomed the 18 participants, which included four hand-picked Jamaica College sixth-form students, and the Foundation's seasoned 'Play and Stay' tennis coaches Evan Williams and Valencia White. Bennett introduced and explained the Volunteers' Manual, compiled by GFF, and the Handbook for Volunteers, compiled by KBC, to the audience.

Alyson Orgill of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), another vital partner, gave a brief overview of the Commission's 12 standards with which each school needs to comply. This was the objective of the workshop and the mission entrusted to the volunteers - to get the GFF's basic schools in compliance with the ECC's high standards. Much administrative work awaits the volunteers, but all were confident they would be up to the challenge.