A modest rectangular building sits adjacent to the principal’s office at the Petersville All-Age School. From the front, it has a formidable grilled window, a heavy wooden door is affixed to the entryway, and gray stucco coats the outside of its walls. With the exception of a row of neatly placed potted plants and a flag pole with a Jamaican flag flowing easily in the breeze, the building is nondescript. However, this building is quite special.
Petersville is a farming community. A large percentage of its residents subsist on agricultural know-how passed on from generation to generation. As the world moves forward with technelogies like the Internet, Blackberry phones, tablet computers, and iPods it became obvious to the staff at the Petersville All-Age School that many opportunities were being lost to the children at the school. Presently, Petersville is challenged by a literacy rate that hovers around the fifty percent mark and many of the children’s eyes widen in amazement when they are allowed to touch a keyboard or mouse for the first time. The staff took it upon themselves to do something about this. More than two years ago, they had the crazy idea to build a general purpose room that would be used to promote literacy and technology; it would be something that would ultimately open up new opportunities to the people of Petersville.
The principal, Mrs. Heath, selflessly organized meetings, managed resources, and rallied support from her staff members and the community. Miss Porteous, the guidance counselor, has been supporting the project since the beginning and was instrumental in its inception. All of the Petersville staff contributed countless hours in helping to plan, work at fundraising events, and to elicit support from the community. KASSSI (Ken and Sadie Student Support Initiative) assisted with much needed supplies and tirelessly campaigned on the school’s behalf. Jim and Penie at “My Father’s House” in White House brought in countless volunteers to assist in the building’s construction and to help provided much needed materials. Food For the Poor and the NEET (Negril Education Environment Trust) organization in Negril provided computers and USAID injected the project with a generous grant. Other members from outside the community have also provided valuable assistance in cash and kind.
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Garth
