Brixton Hill Primary gets new school building

Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and Kind Hearts Foundation (KHF) recently handed over of a self-contained school building to the infant department of Brixton Hill Primary School in Clarendon.

The KHF is a branch of the Richard and Diana Stewart Foundation, a part of the Stewart's Automotive Group. Volunteers from KHF worked with the FFP contractors on June 8 and 9, culminating in the handover ceremony. The new school building is equipped with child-friendly furniture, playground equipment, spacious classrooms, proper sanitation facilities, an office, sick bay, and a fully equipped kitchen.

During the handover ceremony, Susan Moore, director of projects and social intervention, FFP, expressed her organisation's appreciation for the ongoing partnership with the KHF.

"They are our first local donor who has funded the construction of a basic school in Jamaica, and they continue making great contributions to education, as we witness here today," she said.

Christina Hudson, co-founder and chairperson of KHF, opined that early childhood education is a crucial part of a child's journey.

"In total, we have built eight basic schools, one hospital ward, and donated to countless other projects that have touched the lives of thousands of Jamaicans," she said. Hudson also thanked STL Solar for donating an eight-kilowatt solar system to ensure a reliable supply of clean energy.

Leon Clair, principal of Brixton Hill Primary School, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the school community. "Knowing that we have received this building from Kind Hearts Foundation, Richard and Diana Stewart Foundation in partnership with Food For The Poor, we are going to do our best to get some good results," he said.

Robert Morgan, member of parliament for Clarendon North Central, spoke about the broader impact of the investment.

"The return on investment in early childhood education is not just a return in terms of economic value, but also a return on improving the lives and educational outcomes of another generation from this community," he said.

Errol Haughton, education officer who represented the Ministry of Education and Youth, said the event "marks a significant milestone in our journey to provide quality education to the students of this community".