As students return to Christel House Jamaica (CHJ) for in-person classes, plans are underway to offer skills training opportunities for their parents. And parents are excited about the possibilities.
“The program is part of a collaborative initiative with the Jamaica Human Employment and Resource Training Trust/National Training Agency,” according to Tracey Ann Anderson, CHJ Principal. “This will provide sustainable outcomes for the community and the country in general.” Parents are enthusiastically signing up for the skills training program. The agency will perform an applicant assessment to determine qualifications for plumbing, construction, and other jobs. “Since some parents cannot read, they’ll have the opportunity to enter a high school equivalent program,” says Anderson. “They will be able to take classes for basic reading and writing before they matriculate into the skills training area of the program.” After only one year, Anderson can see the tremendous impact Christel House is having in Jamaica. Students are learning and parents are engaging with the school. “We provide a safe and caring environment where the children can be afforded a quality education and other social and emotional support that will help break the cycle of poverty.”