GRACEKENNEDY, THROUGH GRACE AND STAFF, OFFICIALLY OPENS STATE OF THE ART S.T.E.M CENTRE

Kingston, Jamaica, November 26 

In addition to its five homework centres, GraceKennedy, through its Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, has now established a state of the art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) Centre to serve the young people within its programme. The Centre, located on Water Lane in Parade Gardens, was made possible through an MOU signed in October 2011 between the Grace and Staff Foundation and the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID). That MOU provided Grace and Staff with just over US $440,000 to be used to expand the operations and offerings not only of the Grace and Staff Homework Centres, but other areas, including skills training and workforce development.

The S.T.E.M Centre, established at a cost of J$18M, will prepare students for external exams (CSEC & CAPE) and S.T.E.M careers through the introduction to new technologies, for example, robotics, in an environment conducive for studying and research. The 2000 plus square foot Centre boasts a computer lab for animation, an electronics lab for robotics, a 3D printing and design facility, a study/ homework prep area, a multi-subject lab (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) and a lab prep room. 

 “Think about what can happen within these walls to expand the minds of our young people in the area of S.T.E.M – so that they can literally go out and change Jamaica, and impact the world,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby at the official opening on November 24. His sentiments about the potential impact of the Centre were underscored by Hon Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, who noted that the Centre would give young men and women options in growing job fields and areas where there is a current deficit of the requisite skillsets to fill these positions.

The US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, Mrs Elizabeth Lee Martinez and USAID Mission Director, Ms Denise Herbol,  both spoke to the importance of public/private partnerships such as the one between Grace and Staff and the USAID in moving countries forward and keeping them relevant in the era of S.T.E.M, which is accompanied by rapid technological change.

In making his remarks, Chairman of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, James Moss-Solomon said, “The dream of Science, Technology, Robotics, 3-D printing, all in a modern environment on Water Lane is almost surreal.”  He thanked all the partners - ICD, (who provided the building at what Mr Moss-Solomon called “peppercorn” rental), Coldax, Microsoft, FLOW, The Scientific Research Council, Mico University College and the Ministry of Education -  who helped to make the dream  a reality.    

“The dream has become reality!” GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby happily looks on after the unveiling of the plaque at the new GraceKennedy Parade Gardens S.T.E.M Centre on Water Lane in Kingston. Sharing in the moment are (l-r) Min of Education Hon Ronald Thwaites, USAID Mission Director, Ms  Denise Herbol, Chargé d’ Affaires at the US Embassy, Mrs Elizabeth Lee Martinez, Chairman of Grace and Staff, James Moss-Solomon, ICD’s Judith Bruce and Grace and Staff General Manager, Mrs Frances Madden. The Centre, made possible through an MOU signed between GraceKennedy and USAID, was set up at a cost of J$18M and boasts state of the art equipment, including a 3D printer, said to be only the second of its kind in Jamaica.