Lacovia Past Students Build House for Needy Family

The newly completed three-bedroom structure on a large expanse of land in Haughton District, St. Elizabeth, is a stark contrast to the makeshift tarpaulin hut in which Lacovia High School student, Tanoya Williams, and her family lived for six years.

The house, handed over to the family recently, was constructed by the Lacovia High School Past Students’ Association over a one-year period, through the help of several donor entities and individuals.

Tanoya’s ecstatic mother, Latoya Ferguson, hugged members of the past students’ association as well as others in attendance at the ceremony.

Although Ms. Ferguson had been living in the building a few days before the official handover, she looked around in awe at her new house.

The project was led by President of the Lacovia Past Students’ Association, Jennifer Powell, who initiated contact with donors.

In an interview with JIS News, Ms. Ferguson noted that her family’s living situation was poor, adding that she was thankful for her new home and was feeling “overjoyed”.

Young Tanoya told JIS News that she was “grateful for what Ms. Powell has done for us”.

Tanoya’s stepfather, Ronald Miller, recounted to JIS News that “where I was living was not in a pretty condition. Give thanks to Ms. Powell for what she has done. Thanks to Wilbur Clarke, my brother, who gave me the land, and thanks to all who came on board [to help]”.

For her part, Ms. Powell pointed out that the family’s living situation was dire, and after hearing about the plight of Tanoya’s family and subsequently visiting where they called home, her heart was broken.

“When I visited, my attention was drawn to the poor living condition of the couple along with their four children. The first day I visited, I couldn’t sleep that night, as what I saw was not a house but a hut made from pieces of tarpaulin forming the walls, and the roof and door held up with sticks. The flooring was the natural earth, there was no kitchen, hence the family meals were prepared under a tree. There was no sanitary convenience,” she added.

The land on which the hut was located was close to an area impacted by rainfall, and often when it rained, the family had to wade in water that flooded their home.

“During that period, concrete blocks were placed on the ground with pieces of board as an improvised walkway to get in and out of the dwelling. Despite this, I saw a glimmer of hope, with schoolwork neatly written as evidence that homework and additional school assignments were being followed up,” she said.

After assessing the situation, Ms. Powell reached out to other past students of Lacovia High, who suggested that they build a house for the family. Several persons and entities were contacted for donations in various forms, which made the project a reality.

The house consists of three bedrooms, one bathroom, a dining room, kitchen, and verandah. Furniture and appliances were also donated to the family, as well as a water tank.

Meanwhile, Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Youth for Region Five, Collette Plummer, commended the past students’ association and all parties involved in building the house for the family.

“I want to commend Ms. Powell and her team, the past students’ association from the Lacovia High School family, for having taken on this mammoth task – a three-bedroom house. I can’t imagine the cost. So, I want to commend you for taking on the task, and not only taking it on but seeing it through to completion, so that it can be handed over,” she said.

“Special commendations to the donors. The heart of love, giving and good cheer it is really a show of all of that and I want to commend you all,” Ms. Powell said.