HOPEWELL, Hanover – In keeping with a 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, with its six teachers and 100 students who range in age from three to six years old, recently acquired its own premises and constructed its own building through community efforts and contributions from several individuals, organisations and businesses in and around Hopewell. The building is located at the Orchard housing scheme in Hopewell, and consists of four classrooms, an office, bathroom facilities and a kitchen.

The need for furniture for the new building became apparent when the administrators decided they wanted to occupy the premises in time for the 2004/2005 school year. The furniture and equipment, which were being used by the school while on the premises of the Hopewell Deliverance Centre, had to be left there as they were the property of the church.

The CHASE Fund subsequently intervened with a grant of some $700,000 to furnish and make the building habitable. With new furniture, teachers and students moved in on November 5.

In an interview with JIS News, school principal Oliviene Grant pointed out that the grant could not have come at a better time. The funding, she said, had 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.

Finishing touches are being applied to the new facilities.