GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEE FOR TRELAWNYBy Roy Sanford, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOR ADVIRA Virginia-Lawrence, the Governor-General's Achievement awardee for Trelawny, working for her community is in effect working for the development of her country and the future generation.
"Some of us have worked relentlessly for the achievements of our community," Mrs. Virginia-Lawrence said. "But sometimes we fail to realise that when we work for our community, we are building our country and making life better for the future generation."
She has worked through disappointments, has persevered and has succeeded in making her dreams come true.
Mrs. Virginia-Lawrence was born in the community of Mahoe in St. Elizabeth, the third of five children. Their grandmother raised her and her siblings after their mother left home to work as a domestic helper in Falmouth.
Although the financial support received from her mother was not enough to provide for all their needs, her grandmother was a firm believer in education and she made sure the young Advira regularly attended school. Although she could not solicit enough funds to take her external examinations, she was constantly motivated by her teachers and grandmother. Her interest in teaching was ignited when at age 16, she became a pupil teacher at the White Hill Elementary School - the very school she attended when she was a child.
Later, she got married and after the birth of her second son, she decided to attend evening classes at the Falmouth All-Age School. She managed to obtain seven subjects in the Jamaica School Certificate Examinations and later decided to work as a pre-trained teacher. In 1973, she started a basic school in Falmouth.
The school was recognised by the Ministry of Education in 1998 and Mrs. Virginia-Lawrence was granted a scholarship through the D.R.B. Grant/Van Leer Foundation in recognition of her talent as a teacher. Through the scholarship, she was able to obtain formal training in the field of early childhood education.
She now heads the Hope Basic School, which has won several awards, including gold medals in the JCDC festival competition. She has worked tirelessly in a number of voluntary organisations that touch people of all age groups in her community. Mrs. Virginia-Lawrence admits that she had mixed feelings when she received the news that she had won the 2002 Governor-General's Achievement Award. "I just didn't know what to expect," she said. "However, I am thankful to know that people are recognised for what they are doing for their community and their country."
Advira Virginia-Lawrence: "...When we work for our community, we are building our country and making life better for the future generation."
