C2J Foundation refurbishes playground

On Wednesday, Director of C2J Foundation, Corey Worrell unveiled the refurbished play area to Principal Angela Smith and the very excited tots.

 

C2J Foundation Inc., is a registered project based NGO, which focuses on social development. Worrell said that the initiative is part of a ‘School Improvement Project’ that seeks to enhance the experience of public primary and nursery school children, by improving the environment within and surrounding the school - making it safer, attractive and more comfortable.

 

“Gordon Greenidge Primary has a separate play area for their reception and infants. Unfortunately, the children have not been able to use their playground for two to three years due to damaged swings, seesaw and slide. Through the School Improvement Project, C2J Foundation was able to rectify this challenge.”

 

Gordon Greenidge is not the first school to benefit from the generosity of the C2J Foundation, as St. Boniface Nursery also benefitted from the School Improvement Project having their playground refurbished.

 

Looking forwards the future, Worrell is hoping to take the project to all public primary and nursery schools that would benefit from such a project.

 

“We have our eyes set on St. Silas Primary and we have already met with the principal of Vauxhall Primary,” he said.

 

During the unveiling ceremony, Worrell also took the opportunity to thank the Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Education for endorsing the project, as well as the Barbados Lumber Company for supporting the project through its discounts on all materials needed for the project.

 

The Principal expressed heartfelt thanks to the Foundation for giving back the students their play area.

 

“This is a day which we had long awaited and this morning our hearts are over joyed,” she told Worrell, who is a parent of a child at Gordon Greenidge, and also the lone handyman behind the project.

 

According to Mrs. Smith, outdoor play is one of the characteristics of a high quality early childhood education program.

 

“It is an integral part of pupils early years experiences, as it contains many valuable opportunities for pupils to develop and learn,” she explained.  

 

“There are several specific benefits to be gained by pupils when they engage in outdoor play. These include but are not limited to the development of problem solving, imaginative and divergent thinking skills, improved verbal community, high levels of social and interaction skills and creative use of material.”

 

“I am confident that the teachers of the reception classes will allow these pupils to interact in this play park every single day. This will be very important – as not only will these little children have lots of fun and excitement as the play, but it will also allow them to gain substantial knowledge,” she added. (TL)