#Kingston, July 9, 2019 – Jamaica – The proposed tuition-free school being established in St. Catherine by United States-based charity organisation, Christel House International, is slated to be constructed over the next 10 months at a cost of between US$8 million and US$10 million.
The
institution will cater to 840 students, aged four to 18, who hail from communities
deemed marginalised. It is being built on approximately 10.4 acres of land in
Twickenham Park. Its development is
being facilitated by the Government under a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Christel House
International, which is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The
institution, which is expected to be named Christel House Jamaica School, will
be the ninth to be established, joining eight already in operation in India,
Mexico, South Africa and Indianapolis.
The
recently retired Custos Rotulorum for Manchester, Sally Porteous, has a vested
interest in the project, as she was instrumental in encouraging Christel House
International Founder and Board Chair, Christel DeHaan, to establish the
institution in Jamaica.
Ms.
Porteous tells JIS News that Ms.
DeHaan, an Indianapolis native, is someone with whom she has had a longstanding
association.
“Christel
DeHaan is a friend I met 20 years ago when I was in the film industry… and I
subsequently asked her if she would consider establishing a school in Jamaica, to which she consented,” the former Custos
shares.
Ms.
Porteous, who represents Christel House in Jamaica, is a member of the Board of
Directors, and will chair the local institution. She tells JIS
News that the facility will be a “very special school”, based on its
offerings, pointing out that in addition to being tuition-free, the package for
students will include a hot breakfast and lunch, and an afternoon snack.
Ms.
Porteous adds that other provisions will include a laundry room to enable
cleaning of the children’s uniforms, where necessary; and bathrooms with shower
facilities. She points out that the
school will be sited on “a beautiful piece of land” that will provide ample
space for sports and extracurricular activities.
Ms.
Porteous says transportation will be provided between home and school for
students living some distance away.
Noting
that the institution’s educational programme will be comprehensively tailored
for the students’ development from early childhood to the secondary level, Ms.
Porteous says it is intended to track the youngsters’ progress over the ensuing
five years after graduating at age 18.
“We will
try to get them into a tertiary institution, and then we will try to make sure
that they get a job. [By doing] that, you start to effect change in the
communities from whence they came. There’s a lot of love that’s going to be
provided there, because we’re catering to the poorest in our society… . Those
are the people we are reaching out to,” she adds.
Meanwhile,
Ms. Porteous, who was succeeded as Manchester’s Custos on July 1 by
businessman, Garfield Green, says she intends to continue rendering community
service.
Ms.
Porteous, who served as Custos for seven years, lists among her achievements –
boosting the parish’s complement of Justices of the Peace (JPs) to 319, and
renovating the women’s detention centre in Porus.
By Douglas McIntosh
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Patrick Allen (left), converses with Manchester businessman and newly appointed Custos Rotulorum for the parish, Hon. Garfield Green, and retired Custos, Sally Porteous, following the swearing-in ceremony at King’s House on June 24.
Mark Bell Photo