STUDENTS attending Longwood Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth are one step closer to learning in a fully Early Childhood Commission (ECC) certified facility, following a major facelift by volunteers from GK Capital Management (GKCM) and GK General Insurance (GKGI).

The project was led by the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation (Grace & Staff), which is dedicated to uplifting communities surrounding GraceKennedy’s operations across the island. As its 2026 Labour Day initiative, Grace & Staff mobilised GKGI and GKCM volunteers to upgrade several areas of the school that the ECC requires for full certification and registration.

“This is a big deal,” explained Sandrina Davis, chief executive officer of Grace & Staff, while addressing volunteers at the school on May 30. “The work that you’re doing today is not just maintenance. You’re helping to move the school closer to achieving ECC certification.”

Davis noted that while Grace & Staff identifies deserving institutions and community projects, the real transformation is made possible by the commitment of GK team members, who volunteer their time and energy to improve lives.

Sandrina Davis (left), CEO of the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, and Longwood Early Childhood Institution Principal Sasha-Gaye Dixon (back row, in dark blue) join teachers and volunteers from GK General Insurance, GK Capital Management and GraceKennedy Financial Group during a recent Labour Day project at the school in St Elizabeth.

“We find the schools and organisations that need support, but everything that happens after that is driven by our volunteers,” Davis said. “We are extremely appreciative of our team members who continue to show up and make a difference in communities across Jamaica.”

Longwood, which currently serves 46 students and is staffed by a team of three teachers, recently received a compliance score of 70 per cent from the ECC. A score of 100 per cent is required for full certification.

“We are very thankful and grateful to the Grace & Staff volunteers and everyone who is here helping us today,” said Principal Sasha-Gaye Dixon, who explained that the improvements directly support efforts to provide a better educational experience for students.

Daniel Jarrett, project officer, Grace & Staff, does prep work ahead of painting the K3 classroom at the Longwood Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth. 

Among the challenges facing the school are limited seating and the need for more play and learning equipment. The school has also struggled to meet some of the ECC’s infrastructure requirements.

“Some of the areas where we have lost points include our play area and sick bay facilities,” Dixon explained. “The work being done today will help us address those gaps and move closer to achieving a higher score.”

The Grace & Staff project saw 14 GKCM and GKGI volunteers repaint classrooms and exterior walls, refurbish doors, enhance the school’s outdoor learning spaces, and create play areas designed to support early childhood development. Improvements were also made to the school’s sick bay, one of the areas identified by the ECC as requiring attention.

In addition to the physical upgrades, the school received other resources donated by the GKCM and GKGI teams, including classroom equipment, health supplies, a refrigerator, and an interactive digital display board, provided thanks to the support of e-Learning Jamaica.

Sandrina Davis, CEO of Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, repaints the walls of the K3 classroom located at the Longwood Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth.

“This is a labour of love,” noted Rachel Greenland, marketing manager for insurance and investments at GraceKennedy Financial Group, who is also a director of Grace & Staff. “For the past five years, GKGI and GKCM have partnered with Grace & Staff to deliver much-needed support to communities and institutions across Jamaica on Labour Day. This year, our teams from Kingston, May Pen, Mandeville, Santa Cruz and Junction were pleased to assist in the drive to bring Longwood closer to certification status for the children it serves.”