KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Diaspora in Canada through the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF), working closely with the Jamaican Consul General in Toronto and Food for the Poor Canada will be constructing a basic school at Wakefield in Trelawny and Mount Peasant in Portland.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in a release today, stated that members from HHJF and the Toronto Carpenter’s Union from different Locals (27, 46 and 1030), some of whom are Jamaicans have been in Trelawny since July 1, executing these projects.

“Over 4,000 children’s lives have been touched by the generosity of our donors and supporters”, said President of HHJF, Karl Hale.

“This Trelawny build is the first of two this year. The second build is also in July (10-15) and will be in Portland,” Hale added.

Following completion of the school in Trelawny, the team will travel to Portland to build the second of two for 2018 and 19th such school under the HHJF, Food for the Poor Canada and Toronto Carpenter’s Union partnership.

“Helping Hands (founded in 2006 by then Jamaican Consul General to Toronto) continues to build from the ground up through our contribution to Basic School builds in Jamaica,” said HHJF Board Member, and team lead on the project, Denise Jones.

“We have been blessed and honoured to build 19 of the 28 schools, our partner and colleague Food for the Poor has constructed in 10 years.”

Alongside classrooms, kitchens and washrooms, the schools will include water catchment systems, fences and playgrounds.

The ministry noted that the Carpenters Union donated the funds for the constructions, and that the tools and equipment used in the processes will, upon completion of the builds, be donated to the Heart TRUST NTA.