COMFORT CASTLE, Portland — Students and teachers in Comfort Castle and Moore Town in the Rio Grande Valley have received school supplies from the Dr Herma Percy Foundation which has made helping Maroon communities a big part of its mission.

“I started this foundation [in 2025] because I wanted to mobilise the Jamaican Diaspora and teachers in Jamaica, but specifically the Maroon community, which has a proud heritage. The foundation works to empower the Maroon community and their students and teachers through health and education,” said Percy.

The donations to Portland communities were made last week and there are plans to widen the foundation’s impact.

“This year we’re in Comfort Castle because we’re building a movement of the maroons. We actually also help the Charles Town maroons and we are planning to go and help the maroons in St Elizabeth, then we’re going to help the Maroons in Guyana,” Percy said.

Students of Comfort Castle Primary and their parents awaiting back-to-school packages from the Dr Herma Percy Foundation. (Photo:  Everard Owen)

It is no surprise that Comfort Castle was among this year’s beneficiaries, as she has strong ties to the area. According to Percy, her father and other relatives attended the local school, while an uncle and a cousin are former teachers there.

During the handover, she pulled on those family ties as she offered words of encouragement to students and teachers.

“You just inspired me, and I came here to inspire you,” Percy said.

“You can be anything you want to be. Any dreams that you have, you can achieve it. My father did, my siblings did, my cousins did, and my uncle. They were sitting in the same school that you are, so don’t let anything or anyone change you from your dreams,” she added.

Samantha Brown, mathematics teacher at Comfort Castle Primary (Photo: Everard Owen)

She explained the role that members of the diaspora play in the foundation’s work in using education to empower Maroon communities.

“We mobilise Jamaicans abroad who are doing well. Every pencil, every backpack, every notebook, every crayon is given to you not by a corporation but by a Jamaican overseas who’s giving back to you,” she told those gathered.

Moore Town Maroon Colonel Wallace Sterling, who encouraged the students to take care of the donated supplies and use them appropriately, thanked the foundation for its support.

Comfort Castle Primary Principal Dalmain Moore (left) and assistant teacher Tameka McCurbin with packages given to teachers by the Dr Herma Percy Foundation. (Photo: Everard Owen)

Samantha Brown, a mathematics teacher at Comfort Castle, was overjoyed about the donations.

“It’s a wonderful feeling for the students to receive these contributions; it’s a phenomenal feeling. Most are not in a position to get these things and for them to get this now makes it a lot easier for the parents for the coming September. We are blessed,” she said.

“It is not everything that we need in the classroom [that] is provided by the Government, and for our stakeholders to come in and provide these for our teachers, we are grateful. To receive a little package with diaries, and so on, in order to help in your preparations. With these contributions, we can keep track of our day-to-day operations, [to] see if we are on the right track,” added Brown.

Principal Dalmain Moore was equally appreciative and spoke of what the support means for parents.

“It means that this money is saved and can be utilised in other areas. We truly appreciate the foundation for choosing Comfort Castle School as we see how special we are and we are thankful for the support and initiative,” he said.

Parent Nasheika Fuller explained what the help meant to her.

“It is good and nice when someone can give back to the community. I am very grateful for the assistance to my child and family,” she said with a smile.

— Everard Owen

Dr Herma Percy addressing students at Comfort Castle Primary. (Photo: Everard Owen)