Chargé d’Affaires gives to Seivwright Gardens students
United States (US) Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Jamaica, Isiah Parnell played Santa earlier this week when he visited the Rising Sun Basic School bearing gifts.
The school, tucked away in the inner-city community of Seivwright Gardens, received several items of furniture to make the school more comfortable for teachers, students and members of the community. The donation was made possible by the US Marshals Office at the US Embassy.
The Rising Sun basic school is an important landmark for residents of the Seivwright Gardens community, located off the lower end of Hagley Park Road. The school serves as the venue for the community’s homework and computer literacy programs as well as a community centre.
The embassy learned of the pressing needs that the school had following a visit by Public Affairs Officer Patricia Attkisson and her staff in October of this year. At that time, Ms. Attkisson donated a computer and printer for use in the school’s computer literacy and homework programs. On that first visit, principal of the school Laurel Downie apologized to the US Embassy visitors for the inadequate seating arrangements which constituted a wooden bench.
Embassy staff observed that, despite the needs of the school, it was clean, well cared for, and both teachers and parents were passionate about the institution.
On the second visit of the US Embassy, Chargé Parnell came to see for himself the beacon of the Seivwright community and to personally make the donations. “As a father of four, I am quite aware of how important education is, so if we can do even a little to help this school, then we at the US Embassy are happy to assist.” Rising Sun now has a couch, two end tables, a desk and a book shelf, which will make the school more functional and comfortable. Principal Downie and her staff as well as member of the community were on hand to receive the gifts.
The students gave a rousing welcome Mr. Parnell, the US Embassy team and sang Christmas songs for their visitors. Not to be outdone, Mr. Parnell told Christmas stories, which the bright and energetic bunch listened to attentively.
Article contributed by the US Embassy, Jamaica
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