$1.5M TARGET – Group launches campaign to raise funds for Dinthill Technical High

A two-week-old committee is trying to raise $1.5 million by the end of November particularly to help boost the sports and quiz programmes at Dinthill Technical High School, located in the Linstead area of St Catherine.

“This is a lot of money, but we are confident that we will achieve our target,” said Karen Sudu, Director of Dinthill Technical High School Special Projects Fundraising Committee.

She, in giving an insight into the makeup of the group, declared: “This committee – which comprises parents, staff members, and past and present students – is an extraordinary group. Members are dedicated, committed to the task at hand, and are also willing to make sacrifices to fulfil its mandate.”

The committee, already flexing its muscles, handed over $111,000 to the school during the launch of its fundraising campaign at Dinthill Technical High yesterday, July 31.

The main donors of the first amount to be presented to the educational institution are:

• The National Commercial Bank, which became the first corporate entity to contribute. Its donation is $20,000.

• Cabba Barrett, who hails from Church Road in Bog Walk but lives overseas, is the first past student to make a donation.

• Councillor for the Bog Walk Division in St Catherine, Peter Abrahams, is the first politician to contribute.

• The fundraising committee, through a block drive, raised $50,000 in two weeks.
  

Sudu said she took up the fundraising mantle based on her desire to help the school’s daCosta Cup footballers acquire basic work tools, and based on a request from principal Monica White.

She explained that the underlying desire is to ensure that the daCosta Cup squad, along with the School’s Challenge Quiz team, gets the best treatment possible.

All members of both teams are being housed on campus, except for female members of the quiz team who commute weekly – Monday to Friday.

“We want to ensure that both squads get the best treatment possible; we are talking about proper nutrition of at least three meals per day, supplements and hygienic supplies during their stay here. Also, it’s of utmost importance that we underwrite transportation costs for the young ladies, as well as transportation costs when the teams travel to play practice matches,” Sudu further said.

She said some of the students lack financial backing in many areas.

“At a recent meeting, I learnt that, over the years, some students representing this institution found it difficult to purchase vital tools for learning – such as geometry sets, lab books, T-squares, textbooks, calculators, or to even to get a haircut,” Sudu lamented.

She, in the meantime, said her committee is unable to raise all of the funds on its own.

“Our eyes are set on the target of $1.5 million and we will undertake a number of activities to get us there. For persons who and companies that want to donate, please deposit your donations to Dinthill Technical High School’s general account at the Bank of Nova Scotia, Linstead – account number 34118, or make cheques payable to Dinthill Technical High School. If you don’t have the time, we will pick up cheques; just let us know when,” Sudu further said.

In the meantime, Roogae Kirlew, guest speaker at the launch of the committee, urged members of the public to consider their donations as a meaningful investment in education and youth development.

“I look on all of this as an investment in education. I want to say to those who are going to be donating, sponsoring and all of that, look at this as an investment in the citizens of Jamaica, an investment in the youth at Dinthill Technical High School, and an investment in education because education is really the key to success… We are not doing these things for the likes; we are doing it for the love – the genuine love,” he said.

Kirlew also urged the beneficiaries to positively influence other students, and to always be good ambassadors for their school.

“You must ensure that you have persons talking about Dinthill Technical High School in a positive way. We can’t have persons investing in the programme and we have youths who are not disciplined, who disregard rules and regulations,” added Kirlew, who is also Councillor for the Mount Industry Division in St Catherine, and Principal of Cassava River Primary and Infant School.

Principal of Dinthill Technical High, White, in the meantime, expressed gratitude to the fundraising committee for taking on the initiative, adding that it will boost the quiz and sports programmes at the school.

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