By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE SALVATION Army in Lucea, Hanover has completed its $700,000 nursery playground that was funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), under its Child Survival and Child Development Programme. Construction of the project that is adjoining the Salvation Army building on Miller's Drive lasted four months, starting in August and was completed in December.
REQUIREMENT
"It is a requirement for early childhood facilities, and has brought another dimension to the development of children," Captain Derrick Mitchell, leader of the Salvation Army, Lucea, told Western Focus, during a tour of the facility last week.
The playground consists of swings, trampoline, see-saws, slides, a sandbox and other equipment and also entailed the erection of a chain link fence, concrete perimeter fencing and the painting of colourful cartoon characters.
Captain Mitchell said the playground is opened to other older children in the community once they are within a certain height and weight.
"We have designated Fridays as the day when children from outside the nursery can come in and use the facilities, but under adult supervision," he said. "We will also be starting a joy hour where we will have an evangelical outreach, as we are a Christian organisation," he said.
PROJECT PROPOSAL
The Captain also noted that the Social Development Commission (SDC) played an integral role in preparing the project proposal that was submitted to the EFJ, as well
as in its execution.
"The SDC community development officer for the area assisted us greatly as he helped us to work out the logistics for the project. We also had some parents who came and gave their time. We worked very hard to ensure that the project was completed before Christmas," Captain Mitchell noted, adding that the institution had seen a 40 per cent increase in registration since the facility was completed.
EFJ's Child Programmes Coordinator, Janice Blake, told Western Focus that she was very impressed with the project's end result. "The objective has been achieved in light of the fact that the children do need a playground," she said. "It gives them something to do. I am satisfied," she said.
