In only a few years, the Bridgeview Foundation has become a pillar of community transformation in Maryland, rural St Andrew. Founded in 2019 by long-time resident George Dickens, the Bridgeview Foundation empowers its community through sports, education, personal development, and a genuine mission of positively changing children’s lives.

As a partner, the Flow Foundation upgraded the internet service at the Bridgeview Foundation Homework Centre in October 2021, giving it greater capacity to facilitate digital learning for the children of Maryland and surrounding communities.

President of the Bridgeview Foundation, Shamma Dickens-Phillips, who grew up in the community, says her dream is to see Maryland become “the shining city on the hill” and for ample opportunities to be created for its children in order to manifest this vision.

“Having the internet at the homework centre is an asset to the community because it contributes to our big vision of upward mobility for the community and its residents,” stated Dickens-Phillips.

“The internet helps to provide the necessary skills our children need in their educational development. It has improved their numeracy and literacy skills and it allows the kids to be more proficient with research tools and with Microsoft applications. Additionally, children attend training sessions for basic computing skills weekly.”

Students preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams have been particularly incentivised, as they can access past papers online as well as vie for a scholarship. The Bridgeview Foundation awards the top PEP student with a five-year scholarship valued at $200,000, a Chromebook and a school bag filled with supplies.

Volunteerism is also a big part of the Bridgeview Foundation’s success. Dickens-Phillips said, in addition to support from community members, volunteers from the University of Technology will be leveraging the digital access to support a PEP marathon and mock exam in the coming weeks.

Dickens-Phillips further added that strong partnerships have played a key role in the success of the Bridgeview Foundation and that the digital age has created a great opportunity to assist the children with reaching their full potential.

As part of its mandate to ‘change communities and change lives’, the Flow Foundation supports numerous communities, schools and initiatives across the island by providing digital resources to foster economic and social development.