While many students spent Labour Day relaxing at home, several youngsters turned up at Haile Selassie High to repaint classrooms and beautify the school grounds, with Principal Anniona Jones insisting that young people become motivated when adults listen to them, explain the vision, and make them feel involved.

Armed with paint brushes, rollers, and gardening tools, students joined teachers and corporate volunteers on Monday as sections of the school underwent a facelift through a Labour Day project supported by Petrojam Limited, Scotiabank, and Total Tools.

Jones said the transformation of the school was the result of several days of volunteer work and corporate support over the Labour Day period aimed at improving both the infrastructure and learning environment.

“We’re very grateful at Haile Selassie High School to have several corporate partners who have, over a period of four days actually, started from Friday last week, volunteered their time, volunteered their resources and their influence, to be able to help us improve the infrastructure and the general aesthetics of our school,” Jones said.

According to Jones, the work included repainting the school auditorium and guidance department, installing a window in the home economics laboratory, and renovating an entire classroom block.

She argued that the project represented more than physical improvements, saying it also demonstrated the importance of community partnerships in strengthening schools.

Even more striking, however, was the turnout by students, many of whom spent hours painting walls and cleaning sections of the campus despite the public holiday.

Jones said too many adults misunderstand today’s generation, arguing that young people are often willing to participate once they are respected and included in the process.

“Young people are amazing and I absolutely enjoy working with teenagers. They’re actually my favourite age group to work with because they’re relatively simple. They call things out in the way that they see them and if we just stop to listen and explain, then oftentimes when they buy into that vision and they know that you not only love them but you’re willing to put your time and effort behind that, then they’re usually right there with you,” Jones said.

She said students often become more willing to volunteer when they are made to feel that they are contributing to something meaningful beyond themselves.

Among those embracing that message was head girl of the school Jecola Watson, who said she wanted to help improve the appearance of the school.

“Haile Selassie, if you come here, you are not just a student at Haile Selassie, you’ll be one of the family members. Because coming at Haile Selassie, they won’t let you feel like a stranger. They welcome you, they give you that warmth, they give you that longing that you never expected. So for me, Haile Selassie is family,” she said.

Watson added that she enjoys seeing the school environment transformed through colour and beautification projects, noting that Labour Day presented an opportunity to help clean and improve the institution for both current and future students. She also encouraged other young people not to dismiss Labour Day as merely another holiday, but instead to use the occasion to improve their surroundings and take pride in their communities.

The Labour Day effort also drew support from students outside the school, including Esther Reid of Convent of Mercy Academy Alpha, who said her interest in history and the significance of the school inspired her to volunteer.

“I chose Haile Selassie High School because I think it has a lot of history regarding the school and how it came to Jamaica, and I think it’s just one of the biggest properties out there that just honours the whole Rastafarian movement regarding Haile Selassie and his foundation,” Reid said.

She added that despite having other ways to spend the holiday, she felt compelled to contribute.

“I think Labour Day is a very significant and important day where we as Jamaicans come together as a community… to help out and beautify the country or different areas,” Reid said.

Reid also explained that she tries to embrace opportunities to help others whenever possible, saying she believes in putting her “best foot forward” and giving back to communities in meaningful ways rather than remaining at home during the public holiday.

Communications manager at Petrojam Limited Elon Parkinson (left) assists students Esther Reid (centre) of Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha”; Jecola Watson (background in uniform) of Haile Selassie High School; and Shaneiria Beadle (foreground), a lower sixth-form student of St Andrew High School for Girls, during Labour Day painting and beautification activities at Haile Selassie High School on Monday.