A breath of fresh air for New Broughton Primary

Japan, Food for the Poor join hands in sanitation project

Garfield Myers

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

MANDEVILLE, Manchester -- Students at the New Broughton Primary School in South Manchester are the latest beneficiaries of an ambitious drive by the charitable group Food for the Poor to replace pit toilets with running water facilities in as many schools "as possible" across Jamaica.

The Japanese Government donated the equivalent of just over $1 million for the New Broughton project as part of an overall gift of $92,000, which Ryan Peralto -- CEO of Food for the Poor -- says will fund 10 such projects across Jamaica.

According to Peralto, there are 235 schools in deep rural Jamaica which still use pit latrines and "what we (Food for the Poor) want to do is to convert as many of those... as possible into flush toilet facilities". He said the long-term goal was being handicapped by a shortage of funds.

"It's tricky because the economy is the way it is .The issue is just the funds. Funds are slow," Peralto told the Observer, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school recently.

Under the existing arrangement, Food for the Poor seeks out donors for the sanitation programme and implements projects. The contract for the partnership with Japan was signed in November and Peralto expects that the facilities for all ten schools will be completed next month.

In the case of the New Broughton Primary School, the Japanese funding -- described by Japan's Ambassador to Jamaica Hiroshi Yamaguchi "as a small gift for the children" -- made possible the installation of seven flush toilets, four wash basins and a urinal to be used by 112 children. The Japanese gift also paid for the construction of a manhole and septic tank.

Ten-year-old Abigail Taija, who said thanks to Yamaguchi and his staff on behalf of the school community, pledged that the students "will make full use of the facilities that you have given to us".

"There are not words to express our gratitude," she told the amabassador.

Member of Parliament for South Manchester Michael Peart donated two plastic water storage tanks with combined capacity of 1,880 gallons, which will specifically service the toilet facilities. Two large rainwater catchment tanks will be the primary source of water, supplemented by trucking when necessary.

School principal Fitzroy Francis said the project was the fulfilment of years of seeking help.

"From way back we have been trying... the Ministry of Education and others, but we were told it couldn't happen because of budgetary constraints. Then last year, as a result of the joint venture between the Japanese and Food for the Poor, we succeeded," he said.

Francis had free advice for other school principals trying to secure similar sanitation projects. "First of all you must develop a serious plan as a basis for any negotiation. Then you need to convince the donors of your vision and determination. There must be strong and determined leadership to get the job done," he said.

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A breath of fresh air for New Broughton Primary