In a collaborative effort, the students and staff at St Elizabeth Basic School near Trench Town, in Kingston can now enjoy new restroom and storage facilities.
This $3.5 million project was accomplished through a partnership with 10 sponsors and was spearheaded by the Rotary Club of St Andrew North under the guidance of their immediate past president, Carlton Cowell.
The school, located on Ransford Avenue, suffered a devastating fire on Ash Wednesday last year that destroyed the existing building. The fire prompted Father Richard Award, the priest of the adjacent St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, to make an appeal for assistance in rebuilding. The Rotary Club of St Andrew North responded to the call, making the project their primary focus for the 2022-2023 year.
The sponsors who supported this endeavour include ARC Manufacturing Limited, Maercon Engineering, Citrad, Stella Maris Steel Band, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Iprint Group of Companies, Caledonia Outdoor Advertising Limited, Rotary Club Of Oshawa, Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise, and Rotary Club of Cape Coral.
Cowell expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We heard the request, and on visiting the site we thought it was a good fit, not just because construction is one of my personal passions, but I saw the project as an opportunity for my club members to be hands on. One of the foci of the Rotary movement is literacy and education, and our children deserve to be comfortable while they learn."
The official unveiling of the new facilities was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, December 10, following the Anniversary Service of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North, which is celebrating its 36th year. The ceremony took place at the St Elizabeth Basic School, immediately after the service held at the adjoining St Elizabeth Catholic Church.
During the service, Kirk Crichton, the current president of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North, presented a cheque for $30,000 to Father Richard Award. The funds will go towards further operations of the church. This act further exemplifies the ongoing commitment and community spirit of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North.