Wow!! WISE is an amazing programme and I am kicking myself for not having gone sooner to give the public a bird’s eye view of the great things the staff and students are doing. Once again, as she has done many times before, Janine Edwards gave me the idea to contact Gabriele Klaren, WISE Coordinator.

Staff and some students at WISE

Dropping by Wednesday morning for a sort of an impromptu visit, she received me with open arms and gave me the royal treatment as well as the grand tour. With all of the positive energy among the staff as well as the children, it is so sad that they have been the recent victims of at least five break-ins where up to USD $10,000 in equipment and supplies were stolen including six laptops.

Due to the various robberies, WISE has pleaded to local businesses and other agencies for help. Yet, in a weird twist, Gabriele explained that a large majority of the tools were actually recovered, which would typically be a reason to celebrate. Yet, things being they way they are, there are actually no suspects and therefore all of the recovered stolen items must remain with the authorities as evidence and therefore will not be returned to the students. WISE has not received the support it needs because people have assumed that the items have been returned. This is simply not the case.

WISE stands for Workshop Initiative for Support in Education. It started in 2004 and currently boasts of having a full time alternative secondary education for 26 students who are at risk and all have an inclination to learning practical trades and skills. The students are regularly engaged in individual projects of their choice in the areas of carpentry, boat building, bamboo, jewellery, ceramics, visual arts, building trades, agriculture and gardening, food technology, small engine repair, hotel trades, bike repair, technical drawing, swimming/running, first aid, plastics, technical literacy and numeracy and finally computer skills. Although the emphasis is on practical skills, the core subject areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science are taught.

There is so much more to WISE that is difficult to express or explain in a short article such as this, but as Gabriele and the staff kept going on I was absolutely amazed at how much they actually do. Every Wednesday is sports day in which the children can play darts, basketball, football, as well as run and see who can hammer the most nails in a certain amount of time. Every Friday, there is a presentation, movie or motivational speaker. Recently, they acquired the services of Linda Gratton. Linda conducts fitness courses in which the children walk or run up and down the Crocus Bay Hill and eventually end up in the sea for swimming classes.

The WISE staff comprises Gabriele Klaren (Coordinator), Maggie Mitchell, Ali Durand, Janis Elijah, Denise, Gordon Cillis, Roland Hodge, Jonathan Warrington, Denis Pierre, Chris Sullens, Magdalene Gumbs and Marrie Emery. I am certain that there are many other volunteers who I have regrettably omitted.
WISE is indeed an amazing and noteworthy programme which has seen much success recently, thanks to its energetic and experienced staff and bright and promising young students. Gabriele explained that before these 26 students joined WISE, their attendance and grades were below 50%. She now happily reports that attendance is almost 100% and the grades are improving exponentially. Not only is this programme to be commended, but it desperately needs the help of the community as they are without vital equipment to carry out its curriculum. We all urge everyone who can help to please do so. We wish WISE and its students continued success!

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |