Barbary Hall Primary and Infant school benefits from supplies, tablets and financial aid

The small, quiet rural parish of Barbary Hall in St Elizabeth is benefitting immensely from the Wesley Foster Foundation, which has decided to sponsor for an entire year its primary and infant school and has provided students with school supplies such as tablets.

In addition to the tablets, the students will be getting school bags, school supplies, access to WiFi and will also be provided free lunch for the year. The sponsorship for the entire 2021-2022 school year will include free lunch to all students; access to tablets for all students; school backpack and school supplies (notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue, sharpeners, eraser/rubber, pencil case, scissors and calculator for upper students); and free internet access for all students while on campus.

The objective is to ensure that no child is left behind. By providing access to meals, technology and school supplies, this will make it more cost effective for the parents to send their children to school instead of having them home. Students will be given all the necessary resources needed to succeed while at school.

The foundation has given out more than 60 scholarships since it started in 2012. An additional 21 scholarships were given out last year alone, due to COVID-19, to all past recipients who were still in school.

The initial intent of the foundation was to provide scholarships to top achievers and need-based students. However, its mission has expanded to address so much more.

The goal of the foundation is to bring about the kind of changes that will help people live more prosperous lives, by providing access to opportunities that will improve their socio-economic condition through food/nutrition, education, and employment.

Over 1,300 care packages distributed to families

The foundation has distributed over 1,300 care packages to families in the community and surrounding communities over the period of 10 weeks, starting from the week of April 11, 2021 through June 19, 2021. Each week at least 100 care packages were distributed to families.

These care packages consisted of fresh vegetables, food items and toiletries and were given out on a first come – first serve basis. This was done in partnership with the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) – Barbary Hall.

The foundation says it is aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on families and the country as a whole and has changed the lives of all in the past 12 months. The objective was to help families through this difficult time, by providing basic sustenance.

The Wesley Foster Foundation is a private charitable foundation. The goal of the foundation is to bring about the kind of changes that will help people live more prosperous lives, by providing access to opportunities that will improve their socio-economic condition; namely food/nutrition, education, and employment.

The vision of the foundation is that these initiatives will inspire others to also be charitable with their time, financial resources, and influence.