CHASE Fund Assists Hopewell Basic School

In keeping with part of its mandate to fund educational projects across the island, the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, has improved the learning environment of students at the Hopewell Basic School, in Hanover.
The 36 year old institution, which has a population of approximately six teachers and 100 students ranging from three to six years old, has recently acquired its own premises and has constructed its own building through community efforts and contributions from several individuals, organizations and businesses in and around the Hopewell community.
The building is located in the Orchard Housing Scheme, in Hopewell, and consists of four classrooms, an office, bathroom facilities for teachers and students, and a kitchen.
The need for furniture for the new building became apparent when the administrators of the institution decided that they want to move into the new building for the beginning of the 2004/2005 school year. The furniture and equipment which were being used by the school while it was on the premises of the Hopewell Deliverance Centre had to be left there, as they were the property of the church.
The CHASE fund then stepped in with a grant of approximately $700,000 to furnish the new building and make it habitable. With new furniture, teachers and students moved to their new building in the Orchard Housing Scheme on November 5.
In an interview with JIS News, Principal of the School, Oliviene Grant pointed out that the grant could not have come at a better time. She said the funding fulfilled a major dream, which was to move into the new and more spacious facilities before the end of 2004.
“The money was used to purchase 150 chairs and 38 tables for children, a Television set, one computer, a projector, two filing cabinets, six folding chairs, one refrigerator and a stove. These will help us to enhance our learning and feeding programmes,” she explained. Work continues on the finishing touches for the new facilities.