Excelsior Community College gives back to early-childhood education

BENEFICIARIES OF the Excelsior Community College's (ECC) Social Outreach Programme have hailed the philanthropic drive as an important pillar in the development of a number of early-childhood institutions and golden age homes in neighbouring communities.

The community college, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is making plans to increase its level of support to its stakeholders.

Dionne Bailey, principal of the Solomon Levy Basic School and secretary of the Mountain View Development Council, says the support extended to basic schools in the Vineyard Town and Mountain View areas have impacted the early-childhood institutions in a meaningful way.

"At my school, I got a shed which is very, very helpful. The children can now go to the bathroom without getting wet when it is raining. We are really grateful," she said.

Speaking with The Gleaner at the college's annual lapathon last weekend to raise funds for the Social Outreach Programme, Bailey said her school was among several others who have benefited from ECC's assistance.

"It is good to see that young people are willing to give back to the foundation of education, which is the early-childhood sector," Bailey added.

"If we continue on that trend, I hope we can turn around this set of young children coming up to understand that voluntarism, giving back is not always about money, but about building character and integrity in our young students to enhance their learning," she asserted.

The institution's outreach programme requires that each student volunteer 30 hours of service to a non-profit organisation.

$1-million target

Marlene Campbell, senior lecturer and coordinator for the social outreach programme, said the college is seeking to raise $1 million this year to support various projects in early-childhood institutions and golden age homes.

She told The Gleaner that many students first baulked at the idea of carrying out voluntary service as part of their overall course requirement.

However, she says, when students participate in the outreach projects and see the outpouring of gratitude from persons in need, it often impels them to be more deeply immersed in voluntarism.

"The most pleasurable aspect of this course is to observe the process of transformation in our students: The process of moving from a position of resistance, as they feel that the system is cruel to require voluntarism from them, to compliance, and finally the giving of themselves in service to their fellow citizens," she explained.

Richard Green, a student of ECC, says it was the work of volunteers who mentored him and others from inner-city communities that has contributed to the positive strides he has made in life. "It is because of that why I am now at Excelsior Community College pursuing my degree," he told The Gleaner.

He says many young people are faced with various challenges and it was the timely intervention of volunteers that has helped to shape their lives.

Green has now turned his attention to mentoring young men in Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston.

He described the college's social outreach programme as "extraordinary", noting that it has been having a positive impact on its various publics. "Excelsior Community College is providing the link between voluntarism and the people," he said.

Paulos Simpson, a part-time student, is suggesting that all educational institutions, from the primary to tertiary level, should introduce some form of social outreach exercise.

"As part-time students who work during the days, the idea of staging a lapathon to raise funds for charity is a remarkable one," he observed.

Early start

"If we start from a young age in terms of social outreach, whatever you want to name it in the primary institutions, I believe it would give students a greater appreciation as they begin to understand the value of treating our senior citizens in a respectable manner, and also value them as individuals," he asserted.

Shire Bailey, the student volunteer of the year says the act of voluntarism motivates the volunteer to continue to reach out to persons in need.

"You always do voluntary work, but you never actually expect to be paid or given something. But this time, it just felt like it was worth it. It may not be rewarding in terms of money, but at the end of the day, you feel fulfilled and you can also put it on your resumé," she added.