‘Operation Restoration’ builds foundation for kids’ success

When the St. Andrew High School for Girls Key Club in Jamaica received a Kiwanis International Foundation grant, members were excited. They had plans to create a resource center at Webster’s Memorial Basic School for children, complete with computers, educational books, desks, chairs, and more.

A Key Clubber paints a fresh face for the Webster’s Memorial Basic School.

But there was a problem: The room that was to house the resource center was in bad shape. It needed a wall, a door, windows, and a new paint job. Though the club had grant money, that money was earmarked for the center’s materials.

“Thus,” says club vice-president Rushell Ferarah, “Operation Restoration was born.”

First, the club raised additional money to buy paint, and the members repainted the room in a day.

“One down, and three to go,” Rushell says.

Then came the walls. Again the club raised funds. To keep costs down as much as possible, the members built the wall themselves.

“We were guided through this venture by the relative of a Key Clubber who happens to be a mason,” Rushell says. “And once again, in a day we had laid the foundation for the future.”

As for the windows, a Key Clubber’s family was changing out the windows in their home and agreed to donate the old windows. Carpenters framed and hung the windows free of charge. The club’s sponsoring Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew bought a door, which was installed by a carpenter.

It was finally time to fill the room. The Key Club used its grant money to buy two computers, a TV, a DVD/VHS player, musical instruments, educational toys, and many books.

“We spent more than nine hours in the bookstore clearing the shelves of their books,” Rushell says, “and then another three hours labeling the books.

“The job was almost over—but not quite. We also installed a new aquarium, to the delight of the children. And we bought three new wall-mounted fans to keep the computers from overheating until the school can afford air conditioning.”

But that’s still not all. Incorporating Key Club’s Major Emphasis Program, “High Five for Health,” the Key Club members and a parent visit Webster’s Memorial every Wednesday to serve fresh fruit to the children.