LOOKING around her community of Burnt Savannah, St Elizabeth, a young Eileen Braham was troubled by the sight of toddlers playing outdoors instead of being in school, so she took matters into her own hands.

After completing high school, she created a classroom on her mother’s veranda — one that would eventually become an established early childhood institution.

“I was always passionate about guiding and moulding young people’s minds and to eradicate illiteracy expeditiously,” said the now 73-year-old.

“It wasn’t satisfactory to me to see the children running around until they reached the age of six years old and, in those days, even seven years old. Children didn’t go to primary school until they were seven years old. So, I said, although I was young and I was out of school, I would just start a basic school to help out the young children,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The journey began in 1969 with just six children of various ages, all learning the letters of the alphabet and how to read and write, and so much more.

Eventually, they outgrew the space and the following year moved to a section of a small grocery store opposite her mother’s house. But when the word spread that there was a young lady teaching children in the community, more parents wanted their children to benefit.

“While I was there [the grocery shop], a lady came to me and she told me that the place was too far because it was in a lane… she said that if I got out on the main, it would be better and I would have more children, because she heard parents saying that they would send their children but the lane was too long and lonely,” Braham recounted.

Excited at the thought of reaching more children, Braham said she got into planning mode, scoping out locations that could make this dream a reality.

In 1971, her prayers were answered when she learned of a space close to Burnt Savannah Baptist Church being rented. She got it, and within a few weeks her class doubled in size to 12 students.

“From there, it began to grow. The population grew until it reached over 100. In 1975, the school was recognised by the Ministry of Education, and then I changed the name from Burnt Savannah Basic School to Burnt Savannah Early Childhood Institution,” said Braham, her voice full of enthusiasm as she recalled the joyous moment.

“I had to ask permission to do some addition, and with the help of the Baptist Church, the community, and other stakeholders, we managed to make a lovely basic school. I have been there until this day,” she said.

While she was not able to attain tertiary level education, she equipped herself by attending various educational workshops over the years and received level three National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) certification.

In November 2003, Braham was also awarded by the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation Limited in the ‘Best of St Bess Teacher’s’ award category. She was recognised for her dedicated and outstanding service to education and her contribution to human resource development in the parish.

Now equipped with 13 teachers, two cooks, and janitorial staff, Burnt Savannah Early Childhood Institution has a student population of 86. It also features a Brain Builder Center, which fosters cognitive, social, and physical growth.

“I am telling you that it is a blessing because, from that basic school, we’ve had a lot of teachers pass through my hands, lawyers, doctors, you name it, police even pass through Burnt Savannah institution, and to this moment we are still going on,” said Braham.

She noted that in 2019 the school was also certified to become an infant school. However, they have not yet made the transition.

Her dedication to early childhood development was also recognised by Education Minister Fayval Williams, who, in April of this year, visited the institution. She said Williams congratulated her on a job well done.

“She was surprised about what she saw, and she encouraged us to keep up the good work…she was really impressed with what she had seen along with her team,” Braham told the Sunday Observer.

With a total of 55 years in the profession, the educator has no regrets, stating that even though she now plays a less active role in the school, she enjoys time spent teaching her little ones.

“I just love to see children who can help themselves, children who can read and write. I like to see when I have done something, like teach some children, and at the end of the day, I can say well, here goes one of my students and they are performing well. It gives me the strength to go on. I just crave after it,” she said.

When asked if she would ever consider retiring, she was adamant that she would not.

“As long as I am available and can move about, I will try to help young children, because they are the future and we are the elder ones. We might soon be gone, but they will be left to continue. So, as long as I can move around, I just want to be with my children,” said Braham.