ANCHOVY, St James — THE Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation (JBWF) has commenced the construction of a building, estimated to cost $6 million, to house secondary school leavers who currently reside at the Garland Hall Memorial Child Care Facility in Anchovy, St James.

“The JBWF is proud to say that as a body we will see this dream become reality……..we will begin the foundation for this building,” President of the JBWF, Elvia Wright said.

The facility is being constructed on lands adjoining the Garland Hall Memorial Child Care Facility in Anchovy.

But, with only a third of the funding in place to complete the structure, Wright is appealing for financial assistance.

The Garland Hall Memorial Child Care Facility, formerly known as Pansy Garden, was completed in 1957.

Since then, additions have been made to the building, including a sick bay, boys’ dormitory, matron’s quarters and a multi-purpose area.

The facility accommodates up to 35 children, most of whom are wards of the state, sent to the institution by the Child Development Agency (CDA).

However, in some instances, after leaving secondary school, these children are still without any other accommodation, resulting in the need to establish the new building to house these children until they are able to fend for themselves.

“After Garland Hall, where? This has been the question with which the JBWF has struggled for some time. That question gave rise to the idea of a half- way house to be constructed on lands adjoining the home, ” Wright explained.

She was speaking recently at the Garland Hall Memorial Child Care Facility, where the US-based-Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) presented gifts, which included computers, appliances, sneakers and school supplies, to the institution.

COJO is a non-profit organisation which was founded in 1994 by Gary Williams. The group undertakes projects which assist disadvantaged children in Jamaica, as well as the United States.