Mount Hermon was our first school. We happened upon it quite be accident while traveling through the hills of St. Catherines, Jamaica. We were attracted to this magnificent 200 year old church. While taking pictures of the church these mothers were on their way back home after dropping their children at the primary school that is behind the church.

They beckoned us “come see our school we are so proud of our school”. These were modest women who took ownership of their community and its school. They walked us in to the school and introduced us to the guidance counsellor. They stayed until we left.

The guidance counsellor told us some history about the school, she had attended it and her mother had retired from teaching there. We asked about their needs and we were given a list that for us in Canada was quite attainable, the principal, Mr. Alvin walker showed us more of the schools needs. As effective as this school has been in producing remarkable students they are so far from the beaten path and the governments resources so thin that their needs scarcely attended.

When returning to Canada I learned that my mentor’s father had been the schools first principal and the home beside the school was his home from when he was some 6 months old. Furthermore my childhood friend, a prominent minister’s mother had boarded with my mentors family while attending that school. It seemed that providence brought us there.

The school had no audio video equipment. They have been attempting to create a library but even though they had a few computers there was no electricity in the room that would become the library. The door to the proposed library was rotted. The metal roofing on half of the school was rusted and the rain gutters broken and twisted. The landscaping is inconsistent with significant soil erosion. The paved area is broken, uneven lending itself to easy stumbling. The school needs fencing and windows. There is no walls for division between classes so noise pollution is consistent. Teachers had no models for teaching science subjects. The furnishings are significantly aged and barely serving the staff and students. Yet the student are remarkably well behaved and committed to achieving. The teachers are used to creating all the teaching materials that they need. The school had internet access but only to the principal’s office.

We have gifted 2 TV’s a video projector, 3 DVD’s and a screen, several human physiology models for teaching science, many books and WiFi equipment so that the internet connection can be shared throughout the school.

We are now fundraising towards shipping 3 more containers filled with most of the other items that the school needs.