Dunrobin Primary School is better prepared to beat the upcoming summer heat, through the gift of an air conditioning unit by the Optimist Club of Kingston, under the patronage of Lady Allen, wife of the governor-general.

The unit, valued at over J$100,000, will be installed in the staff room.

Addressing the recent handover ceremony at the school’s St Andrew location, Lady Allen said Dunrobin Primary was selected to benefit from the Optimist Club’s charitable activities this year.

“The Optimist Club of Kingston has been very good to me. As a patron, they have given me the opportunity, each year, to select a particular school to give them whatever they need and this year is Dunrobin’s turn,” she said.

Lady Allen said the gift is intended to show support to the education sector for the inestimable value it contributes to national development, as well as provide some comfort for staff.

“Air conditioning used to be a luxury but not anymore, because weather patterns have changed. The days are getting hotter so I believe in another five years, many of our schools will be getting air conditioning units,” she pointed out.

“I want to thank the Optimist Club for their support over the years. We have been together for the past 30 years and several schools have benefited from the efforts they have made,” Lady Allen added.

Michelle Chambers, president of the Optimist Club of Kingston, said the organisation will also be funding the insulation of the air conditioning unit.

Chambers noted that over the years, the club has partnered with Lady Allen to undertake work with the charity of her choice.

“This year, she chose Dunrobin Primary to be the beneficiary… We have collaborated over the years for different voluntary work,” she noted.

Chambers encouraged members of society to partner with a service organisation of their choice to give back to their communities.

“I would just like to encourage persons to consider becoming a member of the Optimist International. If not this service organisation, another one, because it behooves all of us to give back and to invest in the future,” she told JIS News.

Principal of Dunrobin Primary School, Sacheel Grant Henry, for her part, said the unit will have a positive impact on the work environment.

“When you walk into the staff room office area, it will add to the ambience of the space. It is an area where the teachers go to sit down and work, so the environment will be made much more comfortable,” she noted.