If you know where the Sabina Park is located, then we
guess you’re aware of the Alpha Primary School. It’s located on South Camp Road,
in Kingston, just a stone’s throw away from the famous cricket grounds at Sabina
Park. For more than 10 decades the school has been serving surrounding community
by grooming and educating children through academics and sports. Like many
great schools in Jamaica, Alpha Primary School faces infrastructural problems
and so, from time to time, they seek funding from corporate Jamaica. 
As the end of the Christmas term
draws nearer and nearer with each passing day, Mrs. Millicent Graham –
Principal of the school – became increasingly worried about the safety of her
students and her staff. Following several fundraisers, the school still wasn’t
able to repair the school’s main gate (and address other infrastructural problems).
So… determined to get the much-needed funds to have the gate repaired, Mrs.
Graham approached the JN Member Advisory Council at the Duke Street branch.
“The gates were too
weak to be repaired, and so a decision was taken to have them replaced.
Additionally, they [the old gates] did not facilitate pedestrian traffic and as
a result persons picking up or dropping off their children faced lengthy
delays,” Angella
Boothe, Manager of JNBS Duke Street branch, explained. She continued, “We’re happy to be able to award the school with a J$300,
000 grant to get the job done.”
In response to being awarded the
grant from JNBS MAC, Mrs. Graham said “The school is
more than 100 years old, so repairs are critical from time to time. What JN has
done is remarkable and it will go a far way.”
Here’s what Amori Henrique-Jarrett, a
grade six student, had to say about JNBS’ contribution to the school. “The old gate was very low and easy to climb and it was
damaged”, Amori said,
adding that, “I feel that the school is much safer now
because of the new gate. I’m also happy that the pedestrian crossing has been repainted.
It makes crossing the road safer because drivers will be more cautious when
approaching the school. They will slow down, and look to see if students are
trying to cross the road.”
Alpha Primary's situation isn’t unique. Many primary
schools across the island have similar problems. We’re humbled by our responsibility to assist
as many communities as possible through the MAC which exist in all of the
Society’s branches and JN Money Shops. Let us know how we can assist YOUR
community. Apply today!