A $45.3 Million Basic School for a Kingston Church: EU Funds Build a New Home for St Paul’s United

• St Paul’s United Church Early Childhood Institution got a new $45.3 million building
• The Jamaica Social Investment Fund built it under an EU-funded programme
• The work included four classrooms, a kitchen, sickbay and a paved car park
• Construction ran from October 2015 to July 2016

A church-run basic school in Kingston moved into a new building in 2017. The Jamaica Observer reported in June 2017 that the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) had opened a $45.3 million facility for St Paul’s United Church Early Childhood Institution.

Built between October 2015 and July 2016, the school has a four-classroom block, a kitchen and eating area, a sickbay and bathrooms, a principal’s office and storage, a paved car park with wheelchair ramps and a chain-link perimeter fence. It was also furnished with desks, chairs, cupboards, kitchen appliances and safety equipment.

The project was carried out under the European Union-funded Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP-IV), a 48-month programme from November 2014 to November 2018 with a total budget of €12.54 million.

“We have done this through partnerships with financial donors like the EU, which has been a partner with the Government of Jamaica for the last 40 years,” said JSIF managing director Omar Sweeney. Achim Schaffert of the EU delegation said the project showed “the positive, tangible impact that the PRP is having on Jamaica.”

Many Jamaican basic schools are run by churches, some in cramped halls or old buildings. The St Paul’s project shows that public and donor funding can build modern facilities for church-run schools. For churches, having clear title and documentation for the land can make it easier to take part in such projects. Diaspora alumni and church members abroad can support such projects by helping congregations prepare the paperwork and match funding.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com