JN leads way in brightening surroundings at School for the Blind
Published:Saturday | May 24, 2025 | 12:09 AMMickalia Kington/Gleaner Writer
A relaxing transformation took place at The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired this Labour Day, as students, corporate volunteers, and teachers came together to brighten both the school compound and the futures of the children who also call it home.
The initiative was led by JN Fund Managers, who for the third consecutive year have chosen to invest their Labour Day energy into projects centred on youth empowerment. This year, their focus was to deliberately target students with visual impairments.
“One of the things that we ensure that we do is we start impacting the minds of our children from a very early age,” said Delories Jones, senior vice president for sales and marketing. “This year we were deliberate in choosing The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired because we know that even though these children are visually impaired, the aesthetics of their surroundings actually help to lift them mentally.”
The day’s efforts were concentrated on enhancing the school’s open play area, where students often go to relax. The area spanned from a luscious and green lawn to an endless corridor throughout the school grounds. The facelift included a fresh coat of paint, new tables and chairs, bean bags, a brightly coloured corridor, and a unique tactile mural which was specially designed for the children to feel and understand what everybody else would see.
“Even though there may be some that can’t see it, they can actually touch the mural and know exactly what is on it,” Jones added.
But it appears that the most meaningful addition for the school’s leadership was the new Honour Roll board.
“That will motivate our students to do better at their work,” said Sherine Gordon-Whyte, vice president of the school. “Hopefully, we can increase the literacy rate of our students with the Honour board because that is one of our targets.”
Almost immediately, the impact on the students was evident.
PROUD
Kevaughn Thomas, a grade-10 student at the school, was proud to know that he was able to participate in the painting and beautification efforts.
“It makes me feel wonderful and happy to really help to paint because I love painting,” he said.
Thomas dreams of becoming a physical education coach, inspired by his passion for sports like track, football, and swimming.
“I plan to achieve that goal by studying, putting in the work to get my subjects… probably go to a teacher’s college and pursue my dreams to be a coach,” he said.
Thomas was just as delighted as he spoke about the Family Resource Management (FRM) subject, saying it helps students like him develop real-life skills.
“We get to do more things in the kitchen, get to cook and get to do other things. Some students here don’t get to cook at home… so when they come up here and learn certain things, they can go back home and show their parents what they’ve learnt.”
His biggest supporters, he said, are both his mother and father.
“I mostly look up to my mother. I can go to my mother and talk to her about anything.”
This initiative was not a random act of charity, but a carefully thought-out partnership, according to JN Interim Managing Director Hugh Miller. “What we’re really hoping to achieve is also for the youngsters there, as well as the teachers and the caregivers, to realise that there are still persons in society who look out for the marginalised,” he explained. “It kind of shatters that perception that persons in the financial sector, they’re just interested in building wealth and chasing material things.”
Miller said the institution is committed to growing with the school in a meaningful way.
GROWING WITH SCHOOL
“After we’re finished with painting this year… we’re looking for them to guide us as to what they need next year and the year after,” he said. “So over time, they can see that we’re growing with them as an institution.”
For Gordon-Whyte, beautifying the school environment isn’t just for the aesthetic but it’s more about student engagement.
“When you have an environment that is attractive, students will want to come to school… and to learn,” she explained. “Seventy per cent of the students are low vision, so they can see, and they are aware of all the beautification taking place within the school.”
Still, she pointed out that there are deeper systemic challenges.
“One of the challenges that the students face is the resources… up-to-date resources in accessible format, such as Braille. Sometimes we wait so long… sometimes years to get those books,” she said. “The Government itself has to ensure that you have enlarged material, you have Braille material, and you even have a soft copy because they can get it through the speech programme when they have it on their computer.”
Despite these difficulties, Gordon-Whyte remains optimistic.
“I’m so happy for JN for doing this project, and I really hope that God will continue to bless the institution and continue to give to others.”
This Labour Day initiative showed that even a small facelift can make a big impact, especially when it helps children see, feel, and believe in their true potential.