THE Savanna-la-Mar Primary School will benefit from financial assistance of US$10,000 per annum over the next two years under the revised Adopt-A-School programme of the National Education Trust (NET).

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide the support was signed by representatives of Dreams To Reality (DTR) Foundation, Dequity Capital Management, and the school during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education and Youth in Kingston on Thursday.

Acting Chief Education Officer Dr Kasan Troupe, who represented Education Minister Fayval Williams at the signing, lauded the partnership as a “gift that will continue to give”.

“Education is a weapon that breaks the cycle of poverty and gives people the opportunity to transform their economic and social realities. You are not just touching the individuals who will benefit directly, but those who will benefit [indirectly],” she pointed out.

She said that the education sector requires “all hands on deck” to provide students with opportunities that will enrich their learning.

Under the Adopt-A-School Programme, individuals and organisations are invited to identify schools within their geographical area that are in need of some intervention.

The objective is to promote partnerships for the development of the education sector.

Executive director at NET Latoya Harris said that the trust aims to connect “everyone who has a genuine interest in the development of [students] with institutions islandwide”.

“It’s important that we put our children front and centre, and how we [do it] is to make available to them resources and opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have,” she noted.

Chairman of the DTR Foundation Garold Hamilton, who is a past student of Savanna-la-Mar Primary School, welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the development of the institution.

“I consider [this] part of a legacy I’m trying to create in giving back to communities… not only the Westmoreland community but to whoever and whenever I can,” he said.

Chief executive officer of Dequity Capital Adrian Smith said that the collaboration with DTR is “one I was very happy about. I’m glad we could be a part of this [and] I know that we’re going to have a beautiful partnership”.

Principal Megan Berry expressed gratitude.

“We dreamt of this relationship and today it is a reality. I want to assure [everyone] that your benevolence will undoubtedly impact thousands of lives for years to come. Thank you for believing in us,” she said.

During the pandemic the DTR Foundation invested in schools across the island by donating more than 400 tablets as well as providing 100 tablets to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s Positive Jamaica Foundation to help bridge the digital divide.