User:Readingcentre

The Trenchtown Reading Centre was founded in December 1993 - a non-profit, secular, community based, and developed initiative - from the roots up. Library, School, and Community Cornerstone. A place where life is enriched by reading and learning. Emphasizing the exchange of ideas, critical thinking, literacy, education and life skills. Developed to encourage a broad range of educational activities and provide a place for community activities. The Centre continually adds to its collection to provide a broad scope of material that is both relevant and accurate. The Centre provides countless children and adults with more, current, and otherwise unobtainable material, in a relaxed, welcoming and accessible environment. Laying a solid foundation to create the potential for personal, familial, and community well-being and growth.

Trench Town is a small area in the West Kingston ghetto enclave of Jamaica’s capital. Trench Town, like other ghetto areas, has been abandoned and avoided by both the public and private sectors of society. It has been isolated and threatened by the surrounding political and gang violence. Trench Town has a dual identity- a place whose reputation is as much story as it is reality -

Trench Town has been synonymous with violence, fear, despair and other negative attributes of ghetto life. While, at the same time, it is recognized and respected worldwide as providing the Roots of Reggae Music (Unity, One love, Knowledge..) and home to many accomplished and world famous individuals. In reality Trench Town can be a dangerous place but it is also a community. The community and its leaders believe in social change and responsibility. The power of reasoning and constructive action is highly valued. Unfortunately for the younger generation, crime has often proven, in the short term, to be the only route to survival and any material gains. The leaders of the community are determined to change this.

Trench Town is a neighbourhood that is struggling to be strong and safe, working together, trying to move forward, away from violence and despair, towards opportunity.

In Jamaica school is not free. Tuition must be paid each semester, shoes, books and uniforms purchased. This places a great burden on struggling parents. Unable to attend when financial resources cannot be found children's education is often sporadic. Jamaica's economy is suffering and the education system is under great strain. Teachers are inadequately trained and poorly compensated. There is serious overcrowding, lack of materials, and inadequate facilities.