Sandals Foundation and Solenis Pool Solutions join forces to upgrade local school facilities

Volunteers from the Solenis Pool Solutions and the PEACH Project along with leaders from the Enid Capron Primary School and the Sandals Foundation show off educational supplies that the group presented to the school at the end of the project at the school recently

Renewed enthusiasm is what the staff of Enid Capron Primary School had to offer its students at the beginning of this new school term as students returned to a refurbished facility courtesy of Solenis Pool Solutions PEACH (People Extending a Caring Hand) Project Team, in collaboration with the Sandals Foundation.

Over US$30,000 was spent on this project by teams as community volunteers also dedicated quality time to enhancing the school.

This collaborative community service project saw staff of the Enid Capron Primary school being recently supported by Sandals Foundation ambassadors and approximately 40 volunteers of Solenis Pool Solutions PEACH Project who painted murals and educational or activity oriented wall and floor art throughout the early childhood centre. The basketball court was also painted and the picket fence repaired and repainted throughout the school.

New benches were also built and old ones reconditioned to provide more comfortable seating.

The school is the first to receive help from the PEACH Project since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted its usually annual philanthropic efforts across the Caribbean.  “We are happy to be back on the road lending a helping hand,” shared Shane Carte, Project Manager.

“When children are comfortable and happy they naturally learn better. Our vision as a company is to build a safer and healthier world through sustainable innovation so we are happy to be using our skills and resources to help make a positive difference in the lives of these students. We are already seeing how appreciative the teachers are and we know that the students will have fun learning in a brighter, more beautiful environment,” he continued.

A team of Solenis Pool Solutions and the PEACH volunteers make final checks on one of the benches that they made at the Enid Capron Primary School recently

Sentiments of this observed appreciation was echoed by Principal, Sophia Garland who commented: “Seeing all the volunteers at work was like watching an army of ants at work. They arrived very early, and they immediately got to work. They were focused on getting the job done. We are happy that we were chosen to be the recipient of such an extensive project. We can’t wait to see the joy on our students’ faces when they return to school. Thanks to Solenis Pool Solutions, PEACH Project and the Sandals Foundation.”

The synergy on the work day was impressive. All members of staff were present with a paintbrush or tool in hand as they worked alongside the experts.  At one point, the security and school warden were observed painting the mural. “I am so excited to see what is going on. These people travelled from far to come here to do this for us. How can I sit here and not get involved?” commented Andrew Arthur, school warden.

Grade 5 teacher, Melissa Thompson, highlighted the fact that she has been enjoying the collaboration between the school and the Sandals Foundation. “The Sandals Foundation has always been willing to lend a helping hand and now they have literally brought the People Extending a Caring Hand (PEACH) team to us.  Isn’t that amazing?” she laughed.

Minister of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Service, Hon. Rachel Taylor, expressed profound gratitude for the voluntary work that was done at the institution. Having surveilled the school she commented, “Enid Capron has reaped the benefits of a truly collaborative venture between the Caribbean’s leading all–inclusive family resort, Beaches Turks and Caicos, Solenis Pool Solutions, and the Education sector. It is collaborations such as these that help to promote a sense of community responsibility and shared development goals. These volunteers were able to use their specialized skills to efficiently implement innovative solutions to rectify problems and we truly appreciate that.”

Celebrating at the end of the work day, members of the Solenis Pool Solutions PEACH Project and Beaches Turks and Caicos Public Relations Coordinator Jodian Scott-Banton (grey top) did the famous jump shot for the camera at the Sandals Foundation park at the Enid Capron Primary School

General Manager of Beaches Turks and Caicos, Bert Goebel, shared, “I wholeheartedly endorse community service projects of this nature and I look forward to being actively engaged in some of these projects in the near future. I have always admired Mahatma Gandhi as a person and a visionary far beyond his time of living, hence I choose to adopt one of his wise sayings which states, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

“ The Sandals Foundation has been founded for this very same reason. As an organisation, we receive fulfillment in seeing members within our community “win”.” Bert further added, “when we help to facilitate collaborations of this magnitude, for the benefit of the citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands, it generates a ripple effect of creating a more compassionate and supportive society.”

The Solenis manufacturing company, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware in the United States, operates 71 manufacturing facilities located around the globe in 130 countries. Formerly Ashland Water Technologies, it is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for the pulp, paper, oil and gas, chemical processing, mining, bio-refining, power and municipal markets.