Walker's Place of Safety rebuilding fund reaches $6m

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency says it has now received about $6 million towards the rebuilding of the Walker's Place of Safety in Kingston.

In January, the facility was destroyed by a fire which also claimed the lives of two children.

The most recent donor is the St Catherine High School under its Love Care Project.

A $100,000 donation was organised by peer counsellors at the institution.

The Chief Executive Officer of the child agency, Rosalee Gage-Grey, said a technical team has been set up by the Education Ministry to oversee the rebuilding of the Walker's Place of Safety.

"The plan is to rebuild at the same location," she said.

"We are working to get the estimates so that we can share with our partners, who have offered to give some contribution."

Gage-Grey, said it is hoped that construction will be completed by the end of the year.

The new facility, which will house no more than 30 residents, will have counselling rooms and a playroom, among other amenities. 

The 34 wards who were displaced following the fire are now being housed at other residential facilities, and Gage-Grey said they are adjusting to the new locations.

"They are going back to school. We have been having a number of sessions with them, and other persons have contributed in kind, whether it's a movie day or going to a hotel, and that has been helping in the (healing) process," she said.

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