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Trenchtown Reading Centre
Kingston
12 Jamaica
MANY
THANKS TO:
•
Trench Town Reading Centre~ Friends & Amigos
(FACEBOOK)
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.
php?v=131513473563176&ref=mf#!/
TrenchTownReadingCentreAmigos
•
American Embassy Jamaica (Office of Public Affairs)
•
Int'l & Jamaica Scotia Wealth Mng Div.
•
American Friends of Jamaica
http://www.theafj.org/about.htm
•
Agency for Inner City Renewal
(AIR)
• Jane Buchanan( NY ) Branding
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?
sk=group_101339893250117&ref=ts
•
BCLA:British Columbia Library Assoc
•
HELP Jamaica:
http://www.helpjamaica.org/
•
Canadian
Women's Club Kingston
•
Trafalgar
New Heights Rotary
..and
to the many individuals who have reached out in support of the Centre..
THANK You for your contributions, enthusiasm
and encouragement...
Please
send books in boxes small enough to be sent directly through the
post office.
(Picking
up books from the airport is very problematic).
Trenchtown Reading Centre
Lower First Street
Kingston 12
Jamaica West Indies
The Centre was closed for a time but since 2006 has continued to
provide books, programs, and a welcoming place for reading, learning,
literacy,and studying.
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reading_centre@hotmail.com
After
school fun ....
Carl
Brown: Boys Town
Saturday
Morning
Boys
Town Basic school class
Loving Books
Painting-newly blocked off window.. shelves coming
Ahhh...done!
Junior Section New shelves & New books!
Boys
Town Football team and Book Buddies
MORE PHOTOS: 2010, 2011, 2012
on
OFFICIAL Facebook Page:
Friends of the TrenchTwon Reading Centre
reading_centre@hotmail.com
History 2005-2007
In
July 2005 I returned to to Trench Town after an absence due to caring
for my ailing parents. The building and book collection were in
a bad state and, sadly, the Centre was not really in use.
I began necessary & major renovations; repairing & updating
the structure and repairing and restocking the book collection,
which had been depleted. With the help of the FTRC and Christopher
Whyms-Stone the work on the facility and book collection progressed
well. We put in an essential walkway leading directly to the Centre's
front door, grilled in the verandah, made tables, fixed lights,
blocked off a wall to create more space for books, new windows and
doors.....more shelves and most importantly created a 'kids Corner.'
When we were done I was reimbursed for a portion of the refurbishing
costs thanks to Gloria Palomino and the 'American Friends of Jamaica.'
The
Centre was up and running again in early 2006. The librarian is
a local woman who had been a teenager helping me at the Centre when
it first opened in the old park building, December of 1993!
The book collection was growing but I did not have the funds to
complete the remaining updates.
A year
after renewal began, the American Ambassador, Brenda LaGrange Johnson
and the Office of Public Affairs have, since their visit to the
Reading Centre in May 2006, shown enthusiasm and support for the
Reading Centre.
In
fall of 2006. We were awarded a grant. As a result we were able
to complete the much needed renovations; painting, more new shelving,
fans, bathrooms improved, utility sink added and 'Kids Corner' extended.
The book collection was refurbished and greatly expanded.
The effect this grant has had on the Centre's ability to provide
for our users, programs, and to build the collection has been tremendous.
The community and those of us at the Reading Centre are very appreciative,
not only for the grant, but also for the spirit and understanding
and encouragement we continue to receive from the US Embassy.
Thanks
to Friends of the Trenchtown Reading Centre, Gloria Palomino with
a grant from the 'American Friends of Jamaica' and Architect Chris
Whyms-Stone, the 'Community Classroom' was constructed out of the
adjacent uncompleted building.
Inside
& electrical was completed by FTRC & with a grant from the
PR Office of US Embassy FACE JA in 2008.
•
In 2008 the TrenchTown Reading Centre's physical space .. buildings
& yard were complete.
•
Book collection rebuilt and continually growing... with a reputation
as one of the most complete & considered libraries in Jamaica.
• In 2009 the Scotia Wealth Development Group built a wonderful
reading pavilion on site.
•
Program Development & Delivery, Curriculum, Staff Training,
Maintenance & Improvements of the facility. Management and PR
provided by Friends of the TrenchTown Reading Centre. Since 2010
Agency for Inner City Renewal has generously aided FTRC with dispensing
funds & related management issues.
•
Please vist our Facebook Group page for current events. **this is
the ONLY OFFICIAL TRC Facebook Page. )
Beware there is another page posing as the Centre -they are collecting
funds & books - we DO NOTreceive any of it. If you have any
doubts or questions the OFFICIAL email is:
reading_centre@hotmail.com
My
friend and colleague, Carl 'coach' Brown, who grew up in Trench
Town & lived there many years. Despite moving out of the area
and his many success's Carl has always been an active participant
in Boys Town and is constantly concerned and involved with the people
and issues affecting the area.We shared similar hopes and concerns
for Trench Town and constantly brainstormed ideas and discussed
how to deal with various difficulties. Carl was a great help when
I was struggling to get the refurbishing done.
There
was a need to create an organization to broaden the scope of participants
and create a more even and efficient flow of support in order to
complete development plans for the buildings, grounds and book collection.
In August of 2006, we decided to officially join together creating
the non-profit; FACE Jamaica: Friends Advancing
Community Education.
Goals accomplished FACE Jamaica is being phased oput.
Friends
of the TrenchTown Reading Centre(FTRC) continues
to raise funds, develop programs & curriculum
and manage the faciilty in all aspects. Agency for Inner City (AIR)
renewal generously assists with management.
....
committed to the growth of a peaceful and vibrant neighbourhood....
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