Continuing its observance of Child Month 2022, the Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation has provided donations totalling J$2.4 million for renovation efforts at three educational facilities in St Catherine and St James.

Painting and clean-up efforts at the Port Henderson Primary School in Portmore were spearheaded by Food for the Poor Jamaica.

There was also work done at the Montego Bay Learning Centre—a school for students with special needs—and the Victorious Basic School in Gordon Pen, which was led by the United Way of Jamaica.

Scotiabank deployed scores of staff volunteers to assist with the completion of the projects on Labour Day.

Commenting on the bank’s involvement, Yanique Forbes-Patrick, vice-president of public affairs and communications said, “The Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation is very happy to again contribute to the development of our students by helping to improve the conditions at these three institutions.”

“The efforts also marked the physical return of our employee volunteer corps to the communities that we serve and was indeed a special occasion for us following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Forbes-Patrick explained further.

Approximately 50 Scotiabank employees were involved in the works carried out at the institutions.

Stephannie Coy, United Way of Jamaica CEO, underscored the importance of the three initiatives.

“The United Way of Jamaica has given priority to supporting early childhood institutions since the start of the pandemic and with 2022 being declared by the Governor-General as the ‘Year of Early Childhood Development’, we are pleased that Scotiabank has answered the call through their contribution and has helped us to improve conditions and create a safe and enabling environment for young children,” she said.

Kivette Silvera, finance director at Food For The Poor, noted that the programme is the second in its history of partnership with the Scotia Foundation.

“Just last year, thanks to the bank’s generous financial support, we were able to equip schools, including Port Henderson Primary, with handwash stations, to help facilitate face-to-face learning,” she disclosed.

“As part of our monitoring and evaluation strategy, we remained in dialogue with Port Henderson Primary and identified the need for a ‘face-lift’,” Silvera added.

Four classroom blocks at the school were painted as part of the effort.