THREE subsidiaries of the GraceKennedy Group recently completed a peace garden at the Holy Family Infant & Primary School, in memory of student Taysha Hughes who was slain in her community by gunmen almost one year ago.

The Grace team consisted of representatives from Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, GK General Insurance and GK Capital Management, who converged at Hughes’s former alma mater last Wednesday to assist with beautifying the Parade Gardens school.

Principal Christopher Wright, said: “We believe that children must understand that there is another way – and the other way is peace, especially with how we resolve our differences.”

It was amidst the busy end-of-year school period last June, just after the conclusion of Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy exams and with pupils preparing for the annual graduation ceremony, that 11-year-old Hughes was shot and killed.

“Violence [in our area] is not new. But this was my first experience as leader of the school,” said Wright, who has been in charge of the school for only three years now.

The GraceKennedy subsidiaries said they felt compelled to offer the school assistance by improving the students’ learning environment.

Said Andrew Leo-Rhynie, general manager of GK General Insurance: “We understand that communities, whether it’s the communities around our offices or across the island, always need support. Early childhood education is critical to the future of Jamaica so we must try to improve the surroundings for our young children.”

Added Steven Whittingham, managing director of GK Capital Management: “GraceKennedy has been downtown since 1922 and we have always and will continue to support downtown.”