Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Volunteer students from Ontario, Canada, working at Ferry district along the Mandela Highway on Saturday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TWENTY-ONE students and 11 adults from Sturgeon Falls in Ontario, Canada, are currently in the island doing charity work in some of the most deprived inner-city communities in Kingston and St. Andrew. The group is being accommodated by Franciscan Ministries located at Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew.
Most of the visiting students are from the Franco-Cite High School in Ontario, and are in the island at their own expense. Each student had to put up CDN$750 to participate in the programme.
Yesterday, members of the group were at Ferry district, which is just by the Mandela Highway, working at a basic school. The school was actually built by members of the same group in 1999. From sunrise to sunset on Saturday, the group was busy working on renovating sections of the school, and building a barrier to minimise the danger to the toddlers at the school, from the vehicles whizzing by.
While some of the volunteers worked at Ferry, others were at Riverton Meadows along Spanish Town Road. They also did work at Trench Town and other areas of west Kingston.
EYE OPENER
One of the visiting students, Natalie Segeyn, 17, said the experience was an eye-opener.
"We have our own troubles in Canada, but coming here has really made me realise that I have a lot to be thankful for. When you actually go out of your own country is when you realise that you need to stop complaining about every little thing," she said.
Taking a break from pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt and rocks, France Chevrefils agreed with her friend.
"The experience has been great. We have made a lot of friends here," she said.
This is the largest group of volunteers ever to visit from Sturgeon Falls. The delegation tries to visit Jamaica every two years, but sometimes is hampered by funding constraints. The entire trip will cost about $50,000 Canadian.
Shauna Henderson, the public relations officer of the Ferry District Citizens Association, said the visitors were a blessing to the community.
"Right now, the visitors and Franciscan Ministries are the only help this community is getting. They do a lot of work. Right now they are building a house in the community," she said.
The group of volunteers arrived in the island on February 15 and will leave tomorrow.
