Woman converts space to accommodate online learning

In the rural St Elizabeth district of Thornton, many students are faced with challenges to access Internet service since classes have moved online.

However, one resident, Patrice Gray, has sought to use her resources to assist some of them.

Gray has equipped an adjoining section of her business place with Wi-Fi, and is proposing to grant students access for three hours on weekdays and seven on Sundays.

"My bar is a big space and I have a little part around the back, so I got it fixed and offer it to kids in the community. I offer the service from 7 a.m. to 10: 30 a.m. before I would open for business, because I wouldn't want them there when the business open ... that time there would be a lot of distraction," Gray told THE STAR. "On Sundays it's seven hours, so that way all the homework they got in the week, they would have enough time for it to be completed."

Connectivity issues

Being aware of the connectivity issues in the area, Gray said she saw it fit to help where possible.

"A lot of them (students) don't have access to Wi-Fi at home. I have a teacher friend at the primary school and she told me that a lot of them are not online," she said. "The Wi-Fi is there, so might as well I allow the kids to use it and have their classes going; and I want to help my community kids on a whole."

The space has been furnished with benches and tables similar to that of an actual classroom and a sanitisation unit has been set up.

"The room can hold at least eight children comfortably and there is adequate space for social distancing," Gray told THE STAR. "I ensure I go up in the mornings and sanitise the area, just in case; and there is a sink where their hands can be washed. I hope for this week I will see them come up and use the service, because I know it is needed."

Gray, who has been living in Thornton for 30 years, said that she is focused on community enhancement.

"I'm always trying to find ways to reach out and build my community and help the future generation. We have to start from the ground up and try to improve our society for the better," she told THE STAR. She believes she has had this mindset from a tender age.

"I grew up seeing my mom always trying to help people with whatever little she had. People should help because they can do it [and] because people need it, so it is my view that once I can help a situation, I'll reach out and do it," she said.