Roots and Vision

ROC TeachersHow can the world be big and small at the same time? By honoring who we are and where we come from, we can truly touch the world with our gifts. To know oneself deeply is to know one’s place in the world; to love one’s culture entirely is to recognize and honor the cultural ways of others. Rainbow Over Cambridge brings 21st Century learning to a small country town in rural St. James, Jamaica.
Focusing first on the very young with an emphasis on early literacy, the initiative broadens to welcome the greater community – older students, families, businesses, artisans, farmers, storytellers, and keepers of traditions. Rainbow Over Cambridge seeks to engender a deep respect for the bounty of the natural environment, and a commitment to its care.
 
Photo: The gifted teachers of Cambridge Infant School, together with newly-appointed Principal, Ophelia Houghton.

Pedagogy

We are no longer defined by our ability to read and write, but by the breadth of our transferable knowledge; our ability to take the wealth of information available to us in the digital age, and make powerful connections; to solve problems; to find answers. 21st Century literacy means moving cleanly from one idea to another while reading, writing, speaking, listening and ‘clicking’, creating new ideas of substance that will contribute to an ever-advancing understanding of the world, and our place in it. This world of knowledge is every child’s birthright. Together we can disallow the access gap, so all children will reach their full potential.

Our progress

Progress begets progress. What started as a casual conversation among professionals around access and equity in education led to tangible upgrades to the Cambridge Infant School library, office, teaching resources, and school grounds. This momentum has us pursuing the goal of a world-class early childhood center with a strong community component—one which will welcome all children including those in need of early interventions. Help us build a structure worthy of such a dream; one that will house the technology that will bring the world into the classroom and expand the learning horizon of the Cambridge children and greater community.

Where the money goes

It’s simple: termites are devouring the Cambridge Infant School’s main structure, a rectangular building that houses 3 classrooms (90 children) under one zinc roof. The walls, floors, blackboards, desks, and cubbies are turning to powder. Every dollar you send will go to building materials and labor. A combination of contractors and volunteers, already committed, will partner on the actual building in conjunction with the Minister of Education’s local architects. If we surpass our fundraising goals, a new kitchen is next up on our dream list. The children enjoy one delicious hot meal cooked with love by the teachers—now that’s ‘nurturing the whole child’, Jamaican style!
For questions or more information, you may contact Elizabeth Bassford at rainbowovercambridge@gmail.com