$1 million boost for D&G Foundation’s adopted schools in vulnerable communities

The Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) Foundation has provided back-to-school donations valuing J$1 million to vulnerable schools in both rural and urban communities.

The donation comes as, with the approach of the new school year, concerns about the potential impact of insufficient resources on both student performance and attendance are increasingly weighing on the minds of parents and teachers alike.

The first handover was held in Kingston on Tuesday, benefiting early childhood and primary schools in surrounding areas.

Targeting schools across early childhood, primary, and secondary levels, the foundation has already donated care packages to Christians Early Childhood Academy, Callaloo Mews Basic School, Riverton Meadows Early Childhood, and Early Achievers Learning Centre, as well as book vouchers to Seaview Gardens Primary and Cockburn Gardens Primary. Together, these contributions amount to J$375,000.

“The D&G Foundation’s support has become something we’ve come to rely on, so I’m not even surprised by today’s donation of school supplies, especially after they recently provided us with a new industrial stove,” said Sherica Francis-Christian, principal of The Christians Early Childhood Academy. “That said, my appreciation is at an all-time high, as many of our students are in genuine need of assistance. While they may be eager to learn, they often don’t have the resources to apply themselves as well as they can or even show up as often as they should. So, we’ve already identified the students who will benefit from these packages, and we’re excited to invite their parents in to share the good news.”

The care packages for early childhood institutions include a selection of essential supplies such as crayons, letter tracing books, informative posters, and reading books.

“As a newly adopted school, I am elated about this partnership. I have seen the work of the foundation and we cannot be more grateful to have been contacted and we know their support will go a long way,” shared Beverly McKane, manager of Early Achievers Learning Centre.

Echoing the sentiments of their fellow educators, Callaloo Mews Principal Angella Black and Riverton Meadows Principal Junior Rowe both expressed profound gratitude.

“This immediate support to our children will offer some relief while we act on other tasks, including renovating the nursery and rectifying termite issues which prevented accreditation by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC),” said Rowe. “Unfortunately for us, our main sponsor has severed the partnership due to financial constraints which reduced the level of support we had access to.”

AIMING FOR MORE SUCCESS

Keisha Bessoa, acting principal of Seaview Gardens Primary, and Gillian McGeachy, senior secretary of Cockburn Gardens Primary, both raved of their schools’ recent Primary Exit Profile passes and are looking forward to amplifying literacy resources to achieve even more successes.

“We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnerships with these schools, which have allowed us to give back in meaningful ways while helping them enhance their impact on students and the communities they serve. Except for Early Achievers Learning Centre, our newest adoptee, these relationships have spanned years and have consistently impressed us with how effectively they utilise the resources we provide. This motivates us to continually increase our support and back-to-school assistance is vital. It sets the tone for the academic year, and we hope this year’s donations will inspire students, teachers, and parents alike,” affirmed Dennis Beckford, D&G Foundation accountant.

In line with the foundation’s commitment to positively impacting communities across the island, the team will distribute donations totalling J$250,000 during visits to Clan Carthy Primary, Edward Seaga Primary, and Hall’s Delight Primary. Following this, the team will visit BB Coke High, May Pen High, St Elizabeth Technical, and Porus High to deliver book vouchers valued at J$400,000.