ST Stephen’s United Church in Cross Roads, Kingston hopes to break ground in 2010 for the construction of a three-storey education complex, estimated to cost $52 million.

The church is currently raising funds while seeking the approval of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) for the construction of the facility, which will cater to students of all ages, from the basic school level up to adulthood.

Church secretary and chairman of the education complex committee Radley Reid told Career & Education that the new facility — to be built on the church’s property facing Eureka Road — is the latest demonstration of the church’s commitment to education at all levels.

“We started in our church hall with eight students in 1992. Currently we have 102 students and five teachers and an assistant teacher. So we have long outgrown the space,” Reid said.

The St Stephen’s Early Childhood Education Centre presently serves children from as far away as Portmore and Spanish Town as their parents work in the Cross Roads area. The new facility will expand service to older students.

“It will not only provide early childhood education in the day, but also day care services to facilitate persons who leave work at 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm. We will also use it as a homework centre in the afternoon, and for adult education in the evening,” Reid, a former principal of Campion College, disclosed.

The proposed three-storey building, designed by architect Errol Alberga Jr, will have seven classrooms, a staff room, rest rooms, kitchen, play area and other amenities as specified by the Early Childhood Commission, as well as a conference room and appropriate furniture for small children and adults.

Reid admits that the $52-million price tag is “a substantial amount”, but is confident that generous donations from church members and businesses in the area will offset the bills this year (2010).

“We put on one major fund-raising effort in 2008 and we are looking forward to the next — “the Rally of the Zones” set for April this year. We are also developing a project document to seek funding from companies locally and abroad, especially those located in the area,” Reid said.

He noted that donor companies could have parts of the complex named in their honour as recognition of their contribution.

“We have no objection to giving publicity to any company that contributes to the project,” Reid told Career & Education.

He declined to give a time frame for its completion, but said once ground is broken sometime this year, the church “hopes to continue right through until it is ready for occupancy”.

Reid is proud of the legacy of his church’s parent body — the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands — in the education sector and its “very deliberate focus on early childhood in particular”.

Cross Roads itself is a hub of education activity with institutions, including Mico University College and Practising School, St Francis Primary, Alvernia Preparatory, St Hugh’s High and Preparatory, the Wolmer’s schools, St Andrew College, St Joseph’s Teachers’ College, as well as the church’s own International University of the Caribbean.

The complex will be the latest addition to St Stephen’s many outreach programmes, including a feeding programme conducted three times per week, a health clinic and pharmacy with subsidised drugs, visits to children’s homes and the economy corner — a thrift shop with new and used clothes at minimal cost.

The church is particularly proud of its radio broadcast St Stephen’s Calling hosted by minister, Rev Derik Davidson, broadcast on RJR 94FM on Sundays at 9:30 pm.

St Stephen’s Calling is said to be the longest continuously running religious broadcast in Jamaica, being aired continuously on radio for 50 years.

With fees of $4,000 per term for tuition and $400 per week, the early childhood development centre needs the assistance of the church to remain viable. Reid noted that there is one major fund-raising project each year to assist the school, which is an outreach of the church’s Men’s Fellowship.

He paid tribute to the late Adrian Grant, founder of Native Food Packers, makers of the Chippie’s brand of snacks, whom he said “contributed a lot of time, talent and his own money” to the establishment and operation of the basic school. Others such as present chairman Val Meeks and corresponding sponsor Roy Curtis are playing significant roles in the school’s development.