West Green, St James — The Digicel Foundation will start the renovation to the Catherine Hall Special Education Unit later this month, marking the foundation’s eighth renovation project with the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education and Youth.

Digicel Foundation Board director Joy Clark visited the school on Wednesday, June 29 with construction manager Carnel Campbell to tour the facility and sign off on the scope of work for the extensive renovation.

Originally built in 1982, the Catherine Hall Special Education Unit is located on the same grounds as Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School in West Green, St James. As the building approaches 40 years since its original construction, there are several areas of improvement needed to better serve the students – particularly reroofing and repairs to termite and water damaged areas at the facility.

“I’m very excited that the Digicel Foundation has undertaken this project – it’s a very meaningful one and a very special one because this project will go a long way to make our special needs students more comfortable,” said a very excited Marcia Donaldson, acting principal for Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School. The team at the school has already begun lookingahead and making preparations for the project’s completion – this includes engaging community members to participate in the maintenance of the facility.

Speaking on behalf of the West Green Community Development Committee, Judith Whyte, who is the current president, said, “After this renovation we plan to come on board and make sure that the unit is kept clean and well put together. We’ll continue to give our service in cash and kind.”

The Catherine Hall Special Education Unit serves students with varying intellectual and developmental disorders – providing a two-year intervention programme to address learning gaps. By tailoring the education programme to suit the needs of students in a way that accommodates the students’ individual needs and differences, these kinds of schools empower students with special needs and enable them to reach their full potential.

“It’s very important for us to continue working with the Ministry of Education and Youth to support these initiatives,” said Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation. “The special needs community is often underserved and resources are especially scarce outside of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, but we see the work that the ministry, teachers and administrators are doing to create a world where no one gets left behind. We hope this investment will help to advance that mission while providing an inclusive learning environment for all.”

Work will begin on the facility in July with the goal of welcoming students to a newly renovated space in September.