Three units of the Windsor School of Special Education have received water storage tanks, handwashing stations and accompanying accessories, thanks to the generosity of donors to Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica.

The donation benefits 247 students and their teachers at the Denbigh and Rectory Road units in May Pen, as well as the Spanish Town campus. The need for additional handwashing facilities and sustainable water supply were concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food For The Poor responded and provided the needed resources to aid in promoting the well-being of children with special needs.

This donation also means that The Windsor School has made significant improvement in its plan for school health and wellbeing, evidenced by an improved overall Welbin Index score.

The Welbin Index is a tool which measures schools’ compliance with international standards and best practices in mental health, safety, and healthy living, among other areas. The water project completed by Food For The Poor attains three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Good health and well-being (#3); quality education (#4); and clean water and sanitation (#6).

Kimela Jarrett-Johnstone, principal of The Windsor School, noted that the equipment donated has had a positive impact on the students.

“Our children are now telling us…’Miss, wash your hands’…”We get the opportunity to teach vocabulary and help students develop proper hygiene skills. Their confidence has heightened because they are proud of themselves,” she explained.

Classroom teacher for home life at the Spanish Town Unit, Tanya Hall stated that, “Handwashing is one of the first personal care skills children are taught to take care of themselves and practice proper hygiene. Therefore, having the appropriate facility for students to practice this skill stimulated interest and positively motivated them: the children have been using the facilities very well.”

Claire Jackson-Davis, vice-principal at the Rectory Road campus in May Pen, commented that “low water pressure or no service was once a common occurrence at the school, but now with the added tanks attached to the rainwater harvesting system, we have adequate water to supply the entire campus, which has helped to mitigate this problem. This is one gift from FFP that was critical for our survival as a school. Thank you!”

Carla Hylton, who is the teacher-in-charge at the Denbigh unit, points out that water scarcity has been a problem at that location; however, “the tanks have made a vast difference.”

Principal Jarrett-Johnstone expressed heartfelt thanks to FFP, declaring: “We can proudly say that we are providing quality education, in an environment that is safe, with the school conditions for wellbeing, and where children and teachers are happy.”