RESOURCE Basic School in rural south Manchester stepped into the modern era on Labour Day, when volunteers from corporate Jamaica condemned the pit latrines it has been using since 1930, and installed flush toilets on the compound.

The instituion has 20 students and two teachers on roll. Vice principal Ivorlyn Thompson explained that although construction of a modern toilet facility began three years ago, they were unable to complete the work.

“It really spoke to us when we discovered that these young children were still using pit latrines. So, when the school wrote to us, we visited and decided that Resource Basic had to be one of projects this year, said Andre Sampson, Branch Manager, First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union (FHC) Mandeville.

He explained that the work began a week in advance. We had persons go in to render the walls for the restroom. “Today (Labour Day), the team painted the restroom, installed two water tanks, and installed doors and windows. We also painted the school building and did some landscaping. We couldn’t get everything done in one visit, and so there are plans to return to erect signage, finish painting, and possibly tile the bathroom,” he continued.

The Resource project was one of many for FHC, as it zoned its 11 branches and micro loans units into five regions, enabling it to reach several schools, community centres and public spaces across the island in keeping with the 2015 Labour Day theme ‘Labour of Love: Nurturing our Children’.

“As an organisation, we have always been involved in Labour Day projects, but this year we wanted to make an even greater impact” chief operating officer of the credit union Maria Morrison said. “As a result, we were intentional in our planning and in the selection of the projects we spearheaded or partnered with and ensured they were in keeping with the corporate social responsibility mandate and in this case the National Labour Day Theme ‘Labour of Love, Nurturing Our Children’.”

In the east end of the island, FHC participated in three projects, including collaborating with the St Thomas Parish Council to install playground equipment and create a picnic area, as well as plant trees at Rudolph Elder Park, Morant Bay. In Kingston and St Catherine, other team members painted the canteen at St Aloysious Primary School, and the exterior of Westchester Belony Basic School, Portmore.

In the west, FHC teamed up with the St James Parish Council on a project similar to the St Thomas council in Cornwall Housing Scheme.

“It was a long day for all of us but the gratifying feeling you get doing something as small as planting a tree, or cleaning up a play area for kids, means so much to others. I was very happy to see the number of team members who supported these events and the assistance we got from the community as people came out in support of their communities on Labour Day. The spirit of togetherness, camaraderie and the desire to make a difference were in full force and we are pleased to have been able to participate in several projects across the island,” said Basil Naar, CEO of FHC.

Bathroom Building Before

The toilet facilitites that existed at Resource Basic School in Manchester before the labour day intervention of First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union (FHC).

Bathroom Building After

Project leader and FHC Mandeville branch manager Andre Sampson applies a second coat of paint to the side wall of the newly refurbished bathroom facilities at Resource Basic School. Assisting him are members of the community.