Tall order for a Short Boss
With a commitment to help develop even more schools and communities across Jamaica, our Chairman, Denis O’Brien made a commitment in 2015 (after receiving the Order of Jamaica) to help develop the Maud McLeod High School, St. Michael’s Primary and Tivoli High School. This included renovation and other infrastructural improvements as well as providing educational materials to improve teaching and learning experiences. Importantly, this project also saw us working with the schools to reduce their operational expenses through the implementation of solar powered machines, greenhouses and wells, just to name a few.
This year, in continuing our work, we donated over 1000 tablets to the schools to assist with day to day learning activities, which was done just in time for the start of the new school year.
Excited about his win and grateful for his journey, Digicel Rising Stars 2017 winner, Akeem ‘Short Boss’ Smith, has chosen to use his J$1.5 million grant to upgrade the Reliance Basic School in Braeton, St Catherine. The grant was donated by the Digicel Foundation as a part of the overall winnings of the talent show.
"The world is nothing without education," said Short Boss, whose daughter is in her second year at the early childhood institution. "This is where many of us start preparing our young ones to go out into the world. It is so important, not only for our community of Phase Three, Braeton - Portmore, but also for children from outside the area to come here and learn. It means everything to me to be able to help them in this way," he added.
The school has been serving the community since 1988 and currently has 48 students. Principal Judith Royal Gardner, welcomed the partnership saying; “The Reliance Basic School is most grateful for the assistance."