Five schools from Western Jamaica to benefit from 2026 Sagicor SIGMA Run

/ Our Today

administrator

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The organisers of the 2026 staging of the Sagicor SIGMA Run are focused on raising $150 million to assist with repairing five schools in western Jamaica, which were badly affected by Hurricane Melissa last October.

The five are Hopewell High, Green Pond High, Little London High, Mayfield Primary and Infant and Salt Marsh Primary and Infant. These five schools were among those which were badly damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and were forced to delay reopening or operate under a shift system to ensure learning continued.

The three secondary school beneficiaries, Hopewell High in Hanover, Green Pond High in St James and Little London High in Westmoreland, serve a combined 2526 students. The institutions are in urgent need of roofing, electrical repairs, the replacement of windows and doors, as well as upgrades to sanitary facilities, all of which are essential for full reopening.

For students and families, the prolonged disruption has caused growing concern about educational setbacks and the impact on social development, especially as these students also faced learning loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The primary-level institutions which will benefit from this year’s run, Mayfield Primary and Infant in St Elizabeth and Salt Marsh Primary and Infant in Trelawny, face a similar plight.

From extensive roof damage to loss of equipment and essential teaching and learning material, the almost 500 students these two institutions serve combined are in need of as much support as they can get. Principal of Salt Marsh Primary and Infant School, Venesha Brown Gordon, expressed appreciation for the support, noting that “as a school located just outside of Falmouth, we are often overlooked or forgotten. We are truly grateful that Sagicor has come on board to provide the much-needed repairs, so our students can return to a comfortable and safe learning environment.”

For Executive Director of the National Education Trust (NET), Latoya Harris Ghartey, “These institutions are more than physical structures; they are central to community life and student development. Every child deserves to learn in a safe, functional, and dignified environment. When school infrastructure is compromised, learning suffers. Restoring these spaces helps re-establish stability, routine, and a sense of normalcy for students and families, particularly in communities already coping with disruption and loss after a hurricane.”

Continuing, she emphasised that by focusing on specific schools and clearly defined repairs, resources are used efficiently and responsibly, reinforcing how the Sagicor SIGMA Run’s targeted approach maximises its impact. “This allows progress to be tracked, builds confidence among partners and donors, and ensures that improvements directly enhance teaching and learning conditions. Most importantly, it translates collective goodwill into safer classrooms and restored facilities where students and educators can thrive,” Harris Ghartey said.

The 2026 staging of the Sagicor SIGMA Run takes place this Sunday, February 15, 2026, under the theme “Run for the West.” Since its inception, the Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run has been a powerful vehicle for national giving. With its 2026 focus on education recovery, it demonstrates the importance of safeguarding the future, one school at a time. For students in western Jamaica, the repairs offer a renewed opportunity to learn, grow and approach the future with confidence.

Donations can be made via: