Jamaica Education Support -Roy and Jane Dodman
Posted Dec 11, 10:36
John and Christine Hodge recently visited Jamaica to see firsthand the work of JES. Here is a short report from them.
Jamaica Education Support (JES) is the charity formed following the decision of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council to withdraw from support of the work in Jamaica. Many of the previous partner churches of Roy & Jane Dodman felt that they wanted to allow their work to continue and so agreed to try and continue the funding. The directors felt that it was essential that they see the work first hand and so 4 out of the five accompanied by their spouses went for two weeks to Jamaica (for the avoidance of doubt we all paid all our own costs!).
Jane is now Principal of the Mel Nathan College part of the International University of the Caribbean which has been set up by the United Church to provide tertiary education. It has been set up to target those who are impacting or who will impact national development in particular in the schools, community projects, health and the churches. We met teachers who had had a full day’s teaching and came to evening classes from 5.30 to 8.00pm in some cases with their children too. Jane is also still involved in the Mel Nathan Prep school based in Hannah Town. We were shown round the school and met the head teacher, Sarah Palmer. She retired from her government teaching post about 13 years ago. She is clearly a most inspirational figure commanding great respect from pupils and teachers alike. The effect of the prep school has been that many from Hannah Town have been able to get to good high schools, something which before the establishment of the prep school was almost unheard of.
We met many most inspirational and committed people who have a vision of the changes that can be effected. Another was Dr Polly Bowles-Howell who was working in the development of the Oberlin campus of the university (you may recall that Oberlin was one of Roy’s churches). The intention is that there should be facilities in the localities which makes it easier for the students to get to classes. – some travelled great distances to get to their classes.
Roy is now working at the university engaged in the training of ministers. We sat in on one of his tutorials and took part in the discussion on how God speaks to us.
There is a tremendous enthusiasm for education. We came across the same enthusiasm in worship. We were at Manning’s Hill (another of Roy’s churches) and were made most welcome in this small rural community. The worship was a real community event with all taking part. They had no real musicians – there was a guitarist who played occasionally (including during the sermon!) but ladies just started singing and everyone joined in.
This is a brief account of what we experienced. We hope to be able to say more with photographs and are happy to come and speak to any groups.
source-Leith St Andrew’s December magazine