Early childhood school needs help to mould young minds

At Talented Young Minds Daycare and Pre-school, Principal Nneka Morris is on a mission to mould young children into their best selves and not just academically, but emotionally and socially.

Now in its third year of operation, the Paisley Road, Kingston-based school is growing into a safe haven for children from inner-city communities, where they are nurtured, guided, and given the tools to succeed. But to fully realise her vision, Morris needs help.

"We have a few children with special needs, and I see how much they are improving with just a little extra care and attention," Morris shared. "One little girl, her mother wanted to transfer her because she wasn't talking much. I told her, 'Just give us a year.' I worked with her one-on-one, spoke to her slowly, played simple games with her, and now she's talking more. She even pulls me into my office just so we can have our little sessions. Her mother is overjoyed because she understands her daughter so much better now."

Her goal is to expand the school's capabilities to include more special needs children, providing them with an environment that allows them to flourish just as much as their peers. Morris also shared the progress of another student, a boy who previously struggled with social interaction.

"He was all over during class time, he couldn't stay one place, and now he's sitting more, interacting more. He still doesn't speak much, but the change is evident."

While Morris' heart is in the right place, her school is in desperate need of resources to provide the best learning environment for her students.

"Most of the children at Talented Young Minds come from low-income backgrounds, meaning not all can afford school supplies. The school relies on printing worksheets to ensure every student has access to the same learning materials, but ink is costly. A new printer and ink cartridges would make a huge difference," she said.

Morris dreams of transforming an underused multipurpose room into a dedicated learning space for the younger and special needs children.

"We need bean bags, soft mats, a television for educational programmes, and, most importantly, an AC unit because the space gets really hot," she explained.

Currently, the school's Internet connection is under Morris' personal account. Having an official school account would provide better access for educational purposes. A new desktop computer is also a priority.

"We have one, but it's very slow. If we could get a new one, it would help so much with lesson planning and record-keeping."

The school provides one meal a day for its 50 students, as many of them come to school without breakfast.

"We have a small freezer and an industrial stove, but our fridge is not working properly. We need a good fridge to store food," she said. "If we could also get sponsors for food items, it would ensure that no child goes hungry."

The play area is another concern as the ground is a mix of gravel and grass.

"But we need finer gravel to make it more child friendly," Morris explained. "More outdoor play equipment would also be amazing."

For many of these children, the school is like a second home. Morris prides herself not just as an educator but also a mentor, protector, and source of encouragement for children who may not always hear positive words at home.

"I know what it's like to be told you're not good enough, to be told you're foolish. And I never want these children to feel that way. Every morning, I walk into the classrooms, and they all run up for a hug. That tells me that they feel loved here. That tells me we are making a difference."

"With help we can ensure that Talented Young Minds continues to be a place where every child regardless of background or ability gets the chance to shine," Morris added.

Persons interested in assisting Talented Young Minds, may reach out to principal Nneka Morris directly at 1 (876) 783-2468 or 1 (876) 384-4605.