Scotiabank Group Jamaica | Wealth | Business | Everyday Banking | Community | Youth

"Dan Wright (left), senior vice-president, international wealth management, and Debra Lopez-Spence, centre director, Scotia Private Client Group, inter-act with Jammarley Ellis (centre) and Rhapheal Smith after the official hand-over of a reading pavi-lion to Trench Town residents on Tuesday. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer

"My name is Poopie. Who are you?" asked one precocious little youngster of a Scotia-bank employee on Tuesday at the Trench Town Reading Centre on Lower First Street in St Andrew.

The Scotia team was unveiling the new reading pavilion it constructed back in April, but it was the youngsters, some of them as young as three years old, who stole the show.

The pavilion now allows the facility to hold up to 100 children for their daily after-school reading and homework programme.

The centre has approximately 60 registered students but focuses mainly on pre-primary and young teenagers. The curriculum features guided reading exercises but challenges students with an exciting art programme.

"Miss, we have bookwork, and on Saturdays we have arts and craft," shouted Abriana Green.

The 11-year-old has been a regular member of the reading centre for five years and says it has helped her in her studies.

"I love to read and spell. The library helped me to become a better speller. Most of the children say that this is the best library."

Tamikee Walsh, known affectionately in the community as 'Sugar', and even more affectionately by the children as 'Aunty Sugar', told The Gleaner that children like Green inspire her to continue working in the community.

Young stars

Walsh is the librarian and instructor of the centre, where a little over a decade ago she was a young reader herself.

She says that younger students often outshone some of the older ones.

"You'd be surprised to find out that the littler ones are way ahead of some of the older kids. A lot of them can read and reason better than the big ones," she said.

Walsh said that where children were falling back in their studies, her team would have parent-teacher meetings to assess what joint efforts with the parents could be created. She has found that the experience has been mixed.

"Some of the parents don't really support the programme, but those that do really help a lot and you can see that reflected in their children," said Walsh.

The 23-year-old has been working at the centre full-time since January, and says, though it has its challenges, she is coping.

"Oh gosh! When this place is full, it can get really hectic with so many young kids," she said.

"But they say I'm young so I'm really the one to deal with them."

The centre was established in 1993 by Canadian Roslyn Ellison for Trench Town citizens and children from surrounding communities.

Walsh encourages Jamaicans not to be turned off by negative images marring the reputation of the inner-city community but to come to the centre and support its development.

"Come, stop by and read to the children. Trench Town is a safe community."

"Though we are a small centre, we have lots to offer."

Source: Jamaica Gleaner