(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos - Monday, June 4, 2018- Sandals Foundation): Intensifying their commitment to supporting youth and education in Turks and Caicos, The Sandals Foundation – the non-profit arm of Beaches and Sandals Resorts – on Monday (June 4) held a symbolic key handover and ribbon cutting ceremony for the reopening of buildings damaged during the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 at the Enid Capron Primary School (ECPS) and Clement Howell High School (CHHS). The Foundation also opened a state of the art library at CHHS which was under construction when the hurricanes hit.

The three major projects were undertaken as part of the foundation’s pledge to the two schools to assist with post-hurricane recovery efforts and return children to normalcy following the devastation caused by the hurricanes.

Through funding from the Sandals Foundation, Yellow Bird Foundation and American Friends of Jamaica, the Enid Capron Project included hurricane repairs such as roofing, electrical work and other infrastructural improvements to the Stubbs Block at ECPS which was severely damaged by the hurricanes. The Stubbs Block houses the school’s sick bay, a canteen, the computer room and teacher resource room. The school project also included the donation of furniture with the Sandals Foundation confirming that new computers will also be given to the school.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of Sandals Foundation remarked; “I’m very proud to say that we have worked alongside the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Works who have been instrumental in the completion of this project. I must also applaud our partners, the American Friend of Jamaica, the Yellow Bird Foundation, and of course, our guests and team members from Beaches Resorts who responded to the call for assistance and came on board to help to repair the Stubbs Building and improve the learning experience of the students.”

Construction of the new library at CHHS, funded by the Sandals Foundation was well underway when the hurricanes hit in September 2017 and the newly refurbished structure suffered some damage. The school also suffered damage to its canteen. The Sandals Foundation, with support from School Specialty who donated new furniture and school supplies, has since completed construction of the state of the art library and made the repairs to the school’s canteen which included replacing the roof, patio, doors and windows.

Clarke further stated, “The Sandals Foundation truly believes that our children are our future and an investment in them is the best gift to the survival and sustainability of this region. It is, for us, about providing the best environment in which our students can excel and reach their full potential.”

Speaking at the handover ceremony for both schools on Monday, Minister of Education Hon. Karen Malcolm brought remarks and expressed her government’s appreciation for the projects. “I would like to say to Sandals Foundation and Beaches Resorts, thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to the education within these islands,” remarked Hon. Malcolm.  

Hon. Malcolm also encouraged students from both schools to take care of the facilities, she said; “Use them for the betterment of your lives and the improvement of your academic work.”

The Clement Howell High School has 567 students and the Enid Capron Primary School is home to 647 students, making it the country’s largest primary school. With all three projects totaling over two hundred thousand dollars, The Sandals Foundation said it remains committed to supporting education in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the wider Caribbean.