More Schools: Less Barriers to Success

By Keisha Johnson

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation hosts the Jamrock annual gala to raise funds for building Basic Schools in Jamaica. They’ve raised over CAD $2 million to date and built 19 schools in Jamaica.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

Eight-year-old Shyan Henry made her debut appearance in Toronto, Canada on September 14, 2018 at the 13th annual Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation Fundraising Gala.

Accompanied by her mother, Francine Brown, they travelled from Montego Bay, St. James in Jamaica and took the stage at the Donalda Club in Toronto as ambassadors for the many children and communities in Jamaica that have received new schools and educational supplies from the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF).

“When I grow up I want to be just like you,” Shyan told the room of approximately 250 generous donors who that night gave over CAD $500,000 to build more Basic Schools on the island.

It was a record evening of fundraising for the HHJF that remains resolute in its mission to provide Jamaica’s children with opportunities for education and eliminate barriers to their success.

A silent auction during the Jamrock gala helps raise funds for the HHJF school builds.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

Shyan attended the Triumphant Basic School in Montpellier, St. James, which was outfitted by the Helping Hands team in 2015 with eight classrooms, 10 bathrooms, a kitchen, computer room, teachers’ lounge, expanded principal’s office, lunch area and outdoor play grounds.

The opening of the new school, Shyan said “felt like paradise” to her and fellow schoolmates.

TOP (L-R): Shyan with mom Francine Brown and HHJF’s Natasha Borota.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

“I was a proud mom to know that my child was not going to be cooped up anymore in this little, tiny, cramped area,” Shyan's mom, Francine, shared in reference to the two small classrooms that were divided into three rooms to accommodate the 150 students prior to the build.

Her daughter has since graduated to primary school but the impact of the build remains a high point in their lives and in their community.

“It’s a school that teaches very well so it [the new school] was very well deserved,” Francine emphasized with great joy for the expanded capacity of the new school to better serve the needs of the community.

Since its founding by Jamaican-born pro tennis player Karl Hale in 2005, HHJF in partnership with private and corporate donors have gifted over CAD $1.5 million in infrastructure and resources for early childhood education across the island.

HHJF founder and chairman Karl Hale, is a native of Falmouth, Jamaica and returns to the island several times annually with teams of volunteers to build new basic schools.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

(L-R): HHJF Chairman, Karl Hale with Samantha Mahfood of Food for the Poor (Canada).

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

In its genesis, the Foundation renovated existing schools and provided much needed school supplies. With the onboarding of Food for the Poor in 2009 as implementing partner, they expanded to the construction of new schools and have since built 19 basic schools island wide.

Annually, the Foundation teams with members of the diaspora, friends of Jamaica, pro athletes and celebrities for its ‘voluntourism’ school builds. During these five-day trips to Jamaica, participants get hands-on with the local foremen, tradesmen, and the community to construct new basic schools, which cost approximately CAD $80,000 each.

“When we arrive it’s just the foundation, when we leave everything is up for the tradesmen to come in and add plumbing and electrical,” says Natasha Borota of the It Factor Ltd. that provides event management for HHJF.

Throughout the year the Foundation facilitates additional school build trips from partners interested to fundraise or fulfill the amount and take their own volunteers, Borota says.

Sponsors of the 2017-2018 school builds were recognized at the HHJF gala. They included, Sunwing, David Morrison, Kisko, Carpenters & Allied Workers Local 27 and The Caribbean Chinese Association.

(L-R) Singer Sean Paul, Tennis champ Serena Williams and Karl Hale at the school built by Serena.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

Sports superstars, Serena Williams, Donovan Bailey, Orlando Franklin, Stephen Tulloch, alongside Peter Jensen, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Kisko, The Caribbean Chinese Association, Sunwing, David Morrison and most recently Carpenters & Allied Workers Local 27 have each built a school in Jamaica through the HHJF program.

“I love what they are doing. People are engaged in it and I support anything that has to do with education,” said recently retired NFL player Orlando Franklin, who has participated in several of the school builds.

Former NFL player Orlando Franklin (L) gets handy with a paintbrush on this school build in Jamaica.

Photo credit: Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

In 2017 he donated 50 percent of the cost of one build and took along his mother and two siblings then invited several family members from Jamaica to join in and get their hands dirty in the construction.

“They loved it and I am extremely happy to support anything with education on the island and support the school system because early childhood education can help to put kids in a better situation in life,” he noted.

“It’s a good thing to do and I would have my kids get involved when they get older,” added Franklin who migrated from Jamaica at age three.

Consul General of Jamaica at Toronto, Lloyd Wilks who participated in two of the HHJF school builds this year underscored the ripple effects of the “selfless giving” of the HHJF teams.

“A positive spin off was that the HEART Trust NTA received thousands of dollars of brand new tools taken to Jamaica by the team of 27 people who went to the Trelawny build. Carpenters Union 27 met Jamaica’s Prime Minister, made another donation to the education system and has laid the foundation for the development of an internship program. In addition, United Black Trade Unionists and Metrolinx donated school bags complete with supplies to all the students in the adjoining primary school. Carpenters Union 27 members wore their hotel slippers back to the hotel the last day of the build. They turned their steel toed boots over to workers on the ground in Jamaica. That extended generosity was silently noticed and acknowledged from the hearts of each of us,” the Consul General noted.

HHJF chairman Karl Hale says the Foundation is looking to complete its 20th school build next summer and welcomes all who wish to join them.