Jamalco Donates 12,000 Books to Schools in Clarendon and Manchester

Over 12,000 books have been donated by Jamalco, the bauxite and alumina plant in Clarendon, to 40 primary schools in the parish and Manchester, as part of the ‘Month of Service’ activities by Alcoa, the parent company.
About 500 copies covering a wide range of subjects were handed over to the York Town Primary School in Clarendon yesterday (Wednesday, October 11), at the official launch of the ‘book blitz’, which continued throughout the day as Jamalco volunteers distributed the books to the remaining schools.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony at York Town, Brian Doy, Public Affairs Manager at the company, explained that the book blitz was the main activity for the month.
“We’re here today to launch a day of giving for Alcoa. and we had a church service last week where we launched the ‘Month of Service’ for Alcoa. We thought that a book blitz in a single day, where we could deliver as many of those books to our schools as we can, to save the schools from coming to us and collecting those books, was a great way to celebrate the month.and we hope to do this well into the future,” Mr. Doy said.
According to the Public Affairs Manager, this month in over 200 Alcoa locations in 33 countries across the world, Alcoa volunteers are giving their time in community projects, adding that the month of service is supported and promoted by the Board of Alcoa and by the Alcoa Foundation.
“During the month of service, the theme is conservation and sustainability. Here in Jamaica we are taking the sustainability theme to its broadest context with sustainability of not only the environment but of our society and of our economy. Our book blitz is part of that sustainability, providing books so that young people can learn and grow within themselves, within society and within the earth,” Mr. Doy said.
He noted that the books were donated by the Alcoa Foundation and Brothers Brother Foundation in the U.S.A.
“We have already distributed over 12,000 books to tertiary schools and today we have over 50 Jamalco volunteers to help us deliver the books to primary schools in our operating locations here in Clarendon and in Manchester,” he added.
Corvette Madden and Michelle Lindo, Jamalco volunteers and past students of York Town Primary, presented the books to Acting Principal, Rita Pingue.
Student, Mikhail Henry expressed thanks to Jamalco for the donation. “I wish to extend heartfelt gratitude to Jamalco for this generous move towards our education today. Your continued contribution to Clarendon, especially to the York Town Primary School Library, is greatly appreciated,” he said.