Cumberland Basic
November 2022
Cumberland Basic School, Portmore - November 2022
Mission Stop #3 – Cumberland Basic School
(The School of Inspiration)
Our next stop was Cumberland Basic School, located in the heart of Cumberland, Portmore. This school will always stand out in my memory as the School of Inspiration—the place where I truly began to see the power of what we were doing through Read Write Now.
Principal Ms. Smith welcomed the programme with open arms and greatly appreciated the visit.
The sessions were made special by three passionate volunteers:
• Shanique Singh, who spoke to the students about responsibility.
• Akelia Clarke, who introduced them to her imaginary friend, Mr. Green Green, bringing joy and imagination into the classroom.
• Chavelle Kavanaugh – Miss Intercontinental Jamaica 2022, who encouraged the students to believe in themselves by sharing about confidence.
Over the course of the nine days, I was deeply moved by the brilliance of the students. It was at Cumberland that I felt inspired to grow this mission into more than just a programme—to transform Read Write Now into the greatest movement it can be.
The story didn’t end there. Shortly after volunteering twice with the programme, Shanique Singh was crowned Miss Jamaica World 2022. With this beautiful twist of inspiration, we were invited back by Ms. Smith in December for the school’s Christmas party. This time, Shanique returned as Miss Jamaica World 2022, joined by me, Akelia, and Chavelle. Together, we celebrated with the students at their costume class party—a joyful and unforgettable day.
But alongside the inspiration came a hard reality. Not long after, Cumberland Basic School was forced to close because the landlord reclaimed the property. This moment highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing Jamaica’s early childhood institutions, especially community-based schools—the constant uncertainty of space, funding, and long-term stability. While teachers and principals pour their hearts into nurturing children, many of these schools face fragile circumstances that threaten their very survival.
Special thanks to Help Jamaica for providing the funds that made this cycle possible. Cumberland Basic School showed us that when support, creativity, and community come together, inspiration multiplies—but it also reminded us of the urgent need to secure lasting support for Jamaica’s youngest learners.