Select Your Country
The renamed homework centre, Janet Purrier Institute of Empowerment (JPIE) was unveiled today at the Women’s Resource & Outreach Centre (WROC) h Centre located on Beechwood Avenue, in Kingston with funding support from the Digicel Foundation, The Government of Japan and the Universal Access Fund.
Janet Purrier, a founding member of WROC, pioneered the homework and skills training programme more than 20 years ago. The JPIE will offer training and education to adults and high school children.
Speaking on behalf of the Digicel Foundation, Executive Director, Major General Robert Neish described the project as worthwhile, solid, and promising in its potential to be sustainable.
“We are happy to support Janet Purrier’s vision in creating this practical and timely facility and anticipate continued success for WROC especially in the work of empowering young people from this community. Those who make the most of the support that will be available to them here will perform better in school and become more socially rounded. Their families and communities will be relieved to know that there is a safe, adult supervised venue for their children to get extra support,” Major General Neish said.
The Digicel Foundation supports social, cultural, and in particular, educational programmes that are driven and embraced by communities. The Foundation renovated a container for the purpose of expanding the Janet Purrier Homework Centre. Communities in and around the Beechwood Avenue area will benefit from the facility which currently serves 180 adult and children participants; and operates 13 programmes including: homework assistance, behaviour modification, youth advocacy and training; data operations, adult literacy; Math and English, and parenting skills. The mission of the JPIE is “to facilitate the strengthening of families through the strengthening the academic and behavioural capabilities of children and adults”
Also participating in the launch were Members of Parliament, Dr. Omar Davies and Dr. Peter Phillips, His Excellency Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi of Japan, Mr. Hugh Cross, General Manager of the Universal Access Fund and Mrs. Sandra Watson, Principal of the St. Jago High School and sister of the late Janet Purrier.
