Three Hill gets resource centre

RETREAT, St Mary:

Back in February, when St Mary's youth mayor, Fredrina Sequira, appeared in The Gleaner declaring a desire to open a homework centre for young people in Retreat, St Mary, the plucky teenager had no idea it would take less than six months for her idea to come to fruition.

Nevertheless, earlier this week, Sequira, along with hundreds of local children, celebrated joyously at the official launch of a highly anticipated new facility, the Three Hill Resource Centre, which aims to provide residents in the communities of Three Hills, Charles Town, and Retreat with easy Internet access.

Speaking after the opening, Sequira explained to The Gleaner how her dream had become a reality. She said: "With the help of my local councillor, Hugh Radway, and his team, I was allotted $150,000 to use for my idea. When I came up with the idea for a homework centre, Mr Radway had been thinking the very same thing so we merged, went ahead with the project, and here it is.

"I am excited, elated, and really happy today because I'm finally in a position where I, and others like myself, no longer have to go on a wild goose chase just to get homework done."

Sequira believes an additional benefit of the facility is that it will help keep more money circulating within the community as local students will no longer have to spend taxi fares on the 14-mile return trip to get internet access in Ocho Rios.

She explained: "We don't really have much access to computers and the Internet, so we have to travel far just to get one little piece of research done. But now, having this centre right here in walking distance will make a huge difference to the people in this and the surrounding communities.

"And it's not just for young people, but the young at heart also (smiles). Anybody, young or old, can come here and fulfil their social and educational desires, so it will make quite a big impact. I just hope the community members accept this centre and treat it well so it can be of benefit to future generations."

Looking forward, Sequira, who loves to cook and would like to study food and nutrition, hopes to implement at least one more project during her remaining time as head of her parish's youth council.