The Sandals Foundation has initiated a significant educational restoration program across multiple Jamaican parishes severely impacted by recent hurricane activity. In Westmoreland’s Whitehouse community, Culloden Infant School has received two modular classrooms as part of this comprehensive recovery effort, marking a pivotal step toward normalizing education for affected students.
The foundation’s multi-faceted approach extends beyond physical infrastructure, incorporating psychological support, nutritional assistance, and environmental management. Six pre-fabricated modular units have been strategically deployed to create temporary learning spaces while permanent reconstruction planning progresses.
Executive Director Heidi Clarke emphasized the urgency of educational restoration: ‘Creating safe temporary spaces represents just one component of our holistic recovery mission. We’re simultaneously addressing emotional trauma through psychosocial support programs while ensuring basic needs through daily meal provisions and water security measures.’
The foundation has mobilized an international coalition including Team Rubicon for debris removal and structural repairs, Mercy Chefs for nutritional support, and Sesame Workshop for educational resources. Local partnerships with Rhino Jamaica and Ex-o-Pest have facilitated pest management and infrastructure repairs.
At Kings Primary School, temporary roofing installations have already enabled the resumption of classes for critical PEP examination students. Michelle Whittingham, Principal of Culloden Infant, highlighted the psychological component’s importance: ‘These interventions restore routine and build emotional resilience when children’s sense of security is most vulnerable.’
The ongoing initiative currently supports thirteen educational institutions across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. James parishes. The foundation maintains collaborative planning with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education and National Education Trust to coordinate long-term reconstruction timelines.