Mohawk helps students in Jamaica!
Donation protected
Hey there. We're a group of 10 students and 4 faculty members from Mohawk College who are looking to help a public school in rural Jamaica. We'll be going down in November and installing laptops, projectors, and printers at Bowden Hill Primary that will give students and teachers access to technology. We'll also be guiding students and staff on how to use software, and providing ongoing support after we leave.
Bowden Hill has an incredible story. The school was closed down in 2015 after the Ministry of Education in Jamaica announced that it would shutter 18 schools across the country. At the time, Bowden Hill only had 18 students enrolled, and so was put on the chopping block.
The community in West Rural St. Andrew, where Bowden Hill is located, scrambled to increase numbers and secured commitments from parents in the region to pull their children from other primary schools provided that Bowden Hill remain open. Unfortunately, while they were able to obtain a lot of support, it wasn't enough to prevent the school from closing.
That didn't stop the community, however. Instead, they continued operating the school privately in a local church. Teachers, cooks, and attendants came out of retirement to support the school, and the community pooled their resources to provide school supplies and equipment, as well as lunch and snacks to the students at no cost.
The Ministry, seeing their efforts, reinstituted Bowden Hill's status as a public school in January 2016.
Today the school has 85 students enrolled, and the community continues to work hard to effect repairs and help the school maintain itself. Our little group is hoping to lend a hand. We've received a grant through the Career Ready fund that covers the cost of the equipment and a portion of the travel costs, and with your support we're hoping to cover the rest. Our goal is to raise ten thousand dollars before our departure on November the 2nd to donate back to Bowden Hill Primary. Any extra funding that we receive will go directly towards the purchase of school supplies that we'll be giving to Bowden Hill.
During this trip we will also engage in local activities to truly experience the cultural traditions of the Jamaican people. Through cultural dishes, dances, music, and a walk through the descendants of Jamaican history, we will explore the enthralling impact Jamaica has on its community. The students who have chosen to partake in this global experience trip are participating in an immersive leadership role. This will ultimately encourage them to become effective global citizens and to better understand the importance of volunteer work. This trip will also offer the opportunity to reflect on a community that is distinctively different from their own.
Bowden Hill has an incredible story. The school was closed down in 2015 after the Ministry of Education in Jamaica announced that it would shutter 18 schools across the country. At the time, Bowden Hill only had 18 students enrolled, and so was put on the chopping block.
The community in West Rural St. Andrew, where Bowden Hill is located, scrambled to increase numbers and secured commitments from parents in the region to pull their children from other primary schools provided that Bowden Hill remain open. Unfortunately, while they were able to obtain a lot of support, it wasn't enough to prevent the school from closing.
That didn't stop the community, however. Instead, they continued operating the school privately in a local church. Teachers, cooks, and attendants came out of retirement to support the school, and the community pooled their resources to provide school supplies and equipment, as well as lunch and snacks to the students at no cost.
The Ministry, seeing their efforts, reinstituted Bowden Hill's status as a public school in January 2016.
Today the school has 85 students enrolled, and the community continues to work hard to effect repairs and help the school maintain itself. Our little group is hoping to lend a hand. We've received a grant through the Career Ready fund that covers the cost of the equipment and a portion of the travel costs, and with your support we're hoping to cover the rest. Our goal is to raise ten thousand dollars before our departure on November the 2nd to donate back to Bowden Hill Primary. Any extra funding that we receive will go directly towards the purchase of school supplies that we'll be giving to Bowden Hill.
During this trip we will also engage in local activities to truly experience the cultural traditions of the Jamaican people. Through cultural dishes, dances, music, and a walk through the descendants of Jamaican history, we will explore the enthralling impact Jamaica has on its community. The students who have chosen to partake in this global experience trip are participating in an immersive leadership role. This will ultimately encourage them to become effective global citizens and to better understand the importance of volunteer work. This trip will also offer the opportunity to reflect on a community that is distinctively different from their own.
Fundraising team: Mohawk helps Jamaican school (4)
Nicolai Muhutdinov
Organizer
Jarrett Butcher
Team member
NOOR MOHAMED
Team member
Rawan Genina
Team member
