Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town
|
|
|
LATEST NEWS
- - - - Kiwanis International Magazine - |
Outstanding Contribution to Education
Kiwanis International is fully cognizant of the challenges which governments face to provide quality education for the youth and has accordingly mandated local Kiwanis clubs to implement projects which focus on youth development. The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town in keeping with the international mandate has over the years implemented several projects which have directly contributed to delivery of improved quality education in our community. Our main areas of emphasis are in Basic schools, Primary schools and Secondary school. In these institutions we implement projects to improve the areas of Physical Infrastructure, Health and Nutrition, Leadership Development and Life Skills. Physical Infrastructure One of the greatest areas of need, especially at the Basic School level is inadequate physical infrastructure. Due the high cost involved, the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town has over the years, collaborated with private sector and non-government organizations to improve the learning facilities in several schools by undertaking expansion and repairs to buildings and providing furniture and equipment. One of our main partners in this programme is the Food for the Poor organization who has made significant contribution of building material and furniture. Institutions that have benefited from major projects in this effort are Dempshire Pen Basic School, Kid Fid Basic School, St. Johns Basic School, and Jones Avenue Basic School. In the schools, we have constructed class rooms, toilet facilities, recreational facilities and provided furniture and teaching equipment which have resulted in expanded accommodation for more students and improved conditions for both teachers and students. Health and Nutrition Programmes While it is well established that proper health and nutrition are among the prerequisites for an effective learning process we acknowledge that those responsible are not doing enough to satisfy these needs and consequently too large a number of our children, particularly from the inner city communities, are not benefiting from the education system. The main objectives of our Health and Nutrition programme are to prepare the students for improved attendance at school, to develop the cognitive skills and also to detect and recommend treatment for conditions which impede or prevent the learning process. We have achieved these objectives by implementing projects in partnership with health care providers and with contributions from the business sector. We have implemented educational projects at the schools and health centres which focus on areas of immunization, child care, safety and hygiene. Also with assistance from medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies we have provided medical care and nutritional products to many needy students. Leadership Development It can be successfully argued that one can measure the success of our educational system by looking at the leadership product of the graduates. The effort of the Kiwanis club to improve this product is manifested in our presence in schools working with staff and students to develop and enhance leadership skills. Kiwanis International has a structured approach to achieve these objectives. This involves the formation of a K-Family presence at all levels of educational institutions. This family comprises Builder Clubs at the Primary and Preparatory Schools, Key Clubs at the Secondary Schools and Circle-K Clubs at tertiary colleges. The primary objectives of these clubs is to provide an opportunity for students to work with Kiwanis clubs to plan and implement service projects in the schools and home communities. Through these projects students learn the managerial, interpersonal skills, and team involvement which enhances the theoretical lessons and better equipment to meet the challenges of leadership at the wider area of community development. Some of the institutions in Spanish Town where these programmes are implemented include St. Johns Primary School, St. Catherine High School, St. Jago High School, Innswood High School, Johnathan Grant, and St. Jago Preparatory School. Some of the major programmes implemented include Fund Raising projects, Campus Beautification projects, Community Outreach projects at health care facilities, golden age homes and child care facilities. The students benefit by assuming leadership roles among their peers as well as learning leadership skills by working with adults to implement projects. Education and Skill Development The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town in recognizing the limited avenues for talent exposure, have developed projects which provide an opportunity for students to display their artistic talents. Educational competitions such as Debating, Drama, Oratory and Essay Writing are organized among our sponsored clubs. These competitions provide an opportunity for Kiwanians to work with teachers and students in joint projects from which both the schools and students have benefited with recognition and awards at the school level as well as at the Kiwanis International level. These projects are very popular among the students because they present a forum for self expression as well as an opportunity for exposure to participate in national programmes. Undoubtedly, the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town, with the assistance of caring corporate citizens, has and continues to impact on the education of our youths in a meaningful and sustained way.
Our Contribution to EducationAnniversary CommitteeOctober 2002 Spanish Town and its environs have, over the years, presented special challenges to the provision of education, especially for children of tender years. Separate and apart from public educational institutions that receive grant assistance from central government, there are many private schools that have been established to fill the need for basic education in a number of poorer communities. These schools receive little in the way of assistance from that source because of the limitation in resources which central government faces, but the need remains. The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town boasts of having a long and distinguished history of continuously assisting and supporting such schools whether by the provision of physical plant, donations, as well as by the implementation and maintenance of programmes created in such schools dealing with nutrition, information, and guidance counselling. The Dempshire Pen Basic School, Dempshire Pen, in the vicinity of McNeil Park, is one such school that has benefited tremendously from the club. The club’s involvement with the school started some years ago when the school could only accommodate 20 children. As a result of extensive renovation undertaken by the club, the school now accommodated over 130 children. Apart from the physical expansion of classrooms, a playground and bathrooms were added, with a canteen now in an advanced state. The club has, over the years, helped to organise sports days at the school (including donating the trophies). In recognition of the assistance which the club has given to the school, the school’s colours were changed in 1995 to blue and gold – Kiwanis colours! The KIDFID Basic School, located along the Spanish Town bypass in the vicinity of the old FIDCO complex, is another significant achievement of the club. The school was actually built by the club in 1997 from the ground up, with the assistance of FIDCO Builders Mart and a number of companies, both local and overseas. The school was built to provide for the education of 180 to 200 children, and facilitates the Duncan’s Pen community and the immediate environs of the school along the bypass. The club also established a playground and assisted in providing a water tank and base. The club assisted with the construction of a basic school at Cottage, a small rural community nesting in the hills of St. Catherine near Kitson Town. Eighty students continue to benefit from what is the only basic school on that district. The St. John’s Road Basic School, with a student population of 167 and located along St. John’s Road, received assistance several years ago from the club in the construction and renovation of certain classrooms, and the canteen. The Friendship Primary School, also located along St. John’s Road, benefited from the addition of a library built by the club between 1991 and 1992, including several donations of books. The club even assisted with the construction of additional classrooms which were used, at the time, for children with special learning disabilities. Other noteworthy schools that have benefited from the club’s charitable work and services include the Samuel Richards Basic School, along Fairfield Road. That school, built many years ago by the club, was further renovated some 5 years ago with the help of parents in the community. Recently, the Christ Temple Basic School in Central Village, with a population of 150 students, benefited from a feeding programme organised by the club. The club’s school feeding programme was not confined to this school as it included almost all the schools mention plus several others within the Spanish Town environs. Other programmes from which the schools have benefited include debating and spelling competitions which are undertaken from time to time. The club also regularly organises talks on Fire Safety in conjunction with the St. Catherine Fire Department, and talks on personal hygiene utilising the services of medical doctors who are members of the club. Of course, there have been many instances where the club has assisted with school fees for students, and with “back to school” expenses, when the need has been expressed to the club. The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town, in its 28 years of existence, did not restrict itself only to assisting basic and primary schools. Apart from donations of computers to several schools and various beautification projects, the club has fostered leadership training in high school children through its key clubbers. Individual members of the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town have inspired and nurtured students as mentors, role models, and teachers. Recently, key clubbers and students from Eltham Park High, St. Jago High, St. Catherine High, Spanish Town High, Bog Walk High, and Jonathan Grant High benefited from a talk on leadership that will guide them into adulthood. The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town is proud of its efforts to educate the youth and looks forward to continued educational service for the young children of Spanish Town and its environs.
For More Information Contact: |
|
Our Past Presidents - Club Information - Activities Calendar - News - Photos - Committees - LGs of Division 23W Birthdays & Anniversaries - Aims & Objects/Code of Ethics - Club Bulletin - Sponsored Youth Programs Kiwanis Family Links - Club History - Membership Interest - Club Locator - Community Links - Domino Results Copyright © 2002
Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town
|
May 2007 -
Contributed by DP Hector Peart