Hall of Fame track and field legend Donovan Bailey and the DB Foundation have partnered with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food For The Poor to service critical education needs in Jamaica.

Together these organisations, along with 25 enthusiastic volunteers, will build Pedro Plains Infant School in St Elizabeth from Monday through to today for the 60 preschool children who will subsequently have access to free education. The new building is on the site of Pedro Plains Primary School, which will ease the transition from infant to primary level. Currently, 40 students attend the school and the new building will accommodate up to 60 students.

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation has built 12 schools in partnership with Food For The Poor over the past six years. Karl Hale, the founder of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, is thrilled to be partnering with Donovan Bailey.

“Donovan is a global icon and is always gracious with his time. The school that we build will impact children for generations to come. It’s the 20th anniversary of Donovan’s Olympic gold medals and Helping Hands volunteers are excited to be part of another school build.

“The intent of DB Foundation and partners is to build one school per year,” said Hale.

Food For The Poor Canada provides basic aid and sustainable development to those in need across the Caribbean and Latin America, with a focus on Jamaica and Haiti. The charity aims to empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty through community-led programming in food, housing, health, education and livelihood. Over the last eight years, Food For The Poor Canada has built 17 schools across Jamaica.