A family vacation to Jamaica last summer had a surprising, and ultimately rewarding, outcome for Dr. Sharon Alston.
The assistant professor of social work has “adopted” a school and made a commitment to helping improve education for the children in the village of Lethe and the surrounding communities.
A rafting excursion became more than just a lazy day on a river in the Jamaica countryside for Alston. As the raft moved down the river, she observed many of the local residents plying their trades along it. She became curious and intrigued about the culture, history, work opportunities and the families in the area.
What she discovered was quite humbling. “What struck me most was the limited educational achievement for the residents of the Lethe village,” Alston said. “Even the poorest of American children have access to free education.” She visited the Eden basic school, owned and operated by a native woman, who teaches approximately 20 children between 3 and 6 years old. “My American ignorance would have me think that the school was fully equipped with basic resources (computers, whiteboard, lunchrooms etc.).”
The school, located more than 25 miles from a city, has cement floors, two classrooms, an office space, a small kitchen—the size of a closet, a restroom with rusted sinks and slow running water and one room serves as a space for napping but there is only one small bed for the approximately 20 children who attend the school. There is no lunchroom, so the children eat outside under a shed and the playground nook has no working equipment. A swing fixture has one working swing instead of the four it should.
Before leaving Jamaica, Dr. Alston asked about the school’s needs. She returned in September. In between, she raised money from friends to purchase a stove, so that Ms. Jones could cook for the children; tiles for tiling the floor; and school supplies for every student. She also bought and served the children lunch.
Dr. Alston also made visits to several other schools with older children and found mostly the same circumstances. However, the teachers expressed that if they could reach the younger children, the educational outcomes could be better.
Taking on the Lethe school runs parallel with the University’s mission, Dr. Alston believes. “The value of engagement says we (faculty, students and staff ) continually enhance the University’s role and influence in affairs of local and global communities by promoting educational attainment, cultural enrichment, and economic development.”
She envisions the adoption of the Lethe school to also help Norfolk State students. “I hope to develop a study abroad opportunity for students to engage in Project-based learning [PBL] within the Lethe Village. Through PBL, students work with the residents to develop strategies to address poverty, unemployment, and academic failure.”
Since the first time she saw the people and learned the story of Lethe, Alston’s social work instincts kicked in. “The purpose of the social work profession is to eliminate human suffering and improve conditions of society,” said Dr. Alston. ![A family vacation to Jamaica last summer had a surprising, and ultimately rewarding, outcome for Dr. Sharon Alston. The assistant professor of social work has “adopted” a school and made a commitment to helping improve education for the children in the village of Lethe and the surrounding communities. A rafting excursion became more than just a lazy day on a river in the Jamaica countryside for Alston. As the raft moved down the river, she observed many of the local residents plying their trades along it. She became curious and intrigued about the culture, history, work opportunities and the families in the area. What she discovered was quite humbling. “What struck me most was the limited educational achievement for the residents of the Lethe village,” Alston said. “Even the poorest of American children have access to free education.” She visited the Eden basic school, owned and operated by a native woman, who teaches approximately 20 children between 3 and 6 years old. “My American ignorance would have me think that the school was fully equipped with basic resources (computers, whiteboard, lunchrooms etc.).” The school, located more than 25 miles from a city, has cement floors, two classrooms, an office space, a small kitchen—the size of a closet, a restroom with rusted sinks and slow running water and one room serves as a space for napping but there is only one small bed for the approximately 20 children who attend the school. There is no lunchroom, so the children eat outside under a shed and the playground nook has no working equipment. A swing fixture has one working swing instead of the four it should. Before leaving Jamaica, Dr. Alston asked about the school’s needs. She returned in September. In between, she raised money from friends to purchase a stove, so that Ms. Jones could cook for the children; tiles for tiling the floor; and school supplies for every student. She also bought and served the children lunch. Dr. Alston also made visits to several other schools with older children and found mostly the same circumstances. However, the teachers expressed that if they could reach the younger children, the educational outcomes could be better. Taking on the Lethe school runs parallel with the University’s mission, Dr. Alston believes. “The value of engagement says we (faculty, students and staff ) continually enhance the University’s role and influence in affairs of local and global communities by promoting educational attainment, cultural enrichment, and economic development.” She envisions the adoption of the Lethe school to also help Norfolk State students. “I hope to develop a study abroad opportunity for students to engage in Project-based learning [PBL] within the Lethe Village. Through PBL, students work with the residents to develop strategies to address poverty, unemployment, and academic failure.” Since the first time she saw the people and learned the story of Lethe, Alston’s social work instincts kicked in. “The purpose of the social work profession is to eliminate human suffering and improve conditions of society,” said Dr. Alston. “That is, we are to fight for equitable distribution of resources and service for those who are marginalized and oppressed,” she said. “I cannot think of a more deserving population or geographic locationthan the children of the Lethe Village.” P.S.: Dr. Isiah Marshall Jr., dean of the Ethelyn R. School of Social Work, Social Work faculty and staff are supporting Dr. Alston's efforts and have donated school supplies to the Eden Basic School. Alston gives special thanks to Raft Captains, Chris and CJ. Dr. Alston stands with one of the children who attends the school for older students. The boy wants to be a soldier when be becomes of age.A](/getmedia/f067d6d1-241d-4469-900f-50c08ee080f6/dr-alston-in-lethe.jpg.aspx?width=200&height=272)
“That is, we are to fight for equitable distribution of resources and service for those who are marginalized and oppressed,” she said. “I cannot think of a more deserving population or geographic locationthan the children of the Lethe Village.”
P.S.: Dr. Isiah Marshall Jr., dean of the Ethelyn R. School of Social Work, Social Work faculty and staff are supporting Dr. Alston's efforts and have donated school supplies to the Eden Basic School. Alston gives special thanks to Raft Captains, Chris and CJ.
Dr. Alston stands with one of the children who attends the school for older students. The boy wants to be a soldier when be becomes of age.