FOOD for the Poor (FFP) Jamaica has collaborated with Wisynco Group Limited to donate 450 desks and chairs to Rousseau Primary School. The furniture was officially handed over to principal Owen Speid on October 1 on the compound of the Kingston school.

The initiative is part of FFP Jamaica’s school furniture campaign which was launched last October.

“From the day I started my tenure as principal at this school, I wished for someone to help us to deal with this matter,” Speid said.

“We thank Food for the Poor and Wisynco Group very much for their generous donation. Before, we had to separate the children when we were about to administer a test or a mock exam, because we did not have enough desks and chairs. During exams we had to put some of the students outside to wait until the first half of the class completed their exam. That was time-consuming for our teachers. With the new furniture, the teachers can now better plan and make better use of the time with our students.”

He also said the old desks and chairs had rough and uneven surfaces.

David Mair, executive director, FFP, said Rousseau was chosen because of their great need.

“We at Food for the Poor want to help our schools in whatever way we possibly can, and they requested our assistance for desks and chairs. Now we have officially handed over 450 sets to them which has been made possible with the assistance of Wisynco Group Limited.”

Meanwhile, Richard Garel, food service supervisor at Wisynco said the group was happy to be a part of the initiative.

“We have an ongoing partnership with Food for the Poor and this is just one of the success stories which have come from our partnership. We look forward to working together with Food for the Poor or the school in any other way we possibly can assist them.”

The campaign was inspired by the Ministry of Education’s request for at least 15,000 desks and chairs to satisfy the dire furniture needs of public educational institutions islandwide.

–Ainsworth Morris