JN FOUNDATION PROJECT WILL HELP SCHOOL CUT COSTS, BOOST AGRICULTURE
CLAREMONT, St Ann; April 13, 2025
Ferncourt High School in St Ann is likely to benefit from reduced water expenses and improved agricultural output, following the recent handover of a rainwater harvesting system to the school by the JN Foundation.
The system was officially handed over in March as part of the JN Foundation’s observance of World Water Day.
The rainwater harvesting system was designed to support the school’s water needs, including its farming activities and should help reduce Ferncourt’s reliance on external water sources, JN Foundation said.
(Reuben Fullerton (right), vice principal of Ferncourt High School, leads a tour of the newly donated rainwater harvesting system at the institution with Claudine Allen (second from right), general manager of the JN Foundation; Omar Wright (left), lead for environment and community development programmes at JN Foundation; and Hershell Blair (left), Agriculture and Integrated Science teacher. The system, will support the school’s sustainability efforts, including its farm.)
According to Omar Wright, lead for environment and community development programmes at JN Foundation the donated system along with other water conservation and water use efficiency practices, has the potential to reduce the school’s water bill, which is approximately $250,000 per month, by 30 per cent.
“The system was designed to promote water conservation and efficiency. It has four main components with the first being a large surface area to collect rainwater. There’s also a meshed guttering system that channels the water to a central location while keeping out dust and other contaminants, secure storage tanks to hold the water, and a pump to distribute it throughout the school,” Wright explained.
BOOST FOR AGRI PROGRAMMES
Reuben Fullerton, vice principal at Ferncourt, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that it will help enhance the school’s sustainability efforts. He shared that the institution has faced serious challenges with water reliability, leading to the loss of crops and chickens.
“We use [water] for everything including supplying the farm, and I can assure you that this project will cut our water bill drastically,” he said.
The school’s farm spans approximately three and a half to four acres and its agriculture programme provides hands-on learning experiences for students interested in pursuing careers in agriculture and environmental management. Additionally, the programme supports the school’s feeding initiative, supplying chickens raised on the farm to the canteen for student meals.
Mr Fullerton said that they plan to replicate the new water harvesting system across the school to further strengthen water management.
Pixley Irons, past student of Ferncourt and president of the JN Circle Chapter, welcomed the donation and thanked the school for embracing it. He also emphasised the positive impact it will have on the school community.
“I think this is a very good project and I know that it will be very helpful to the school, knowing
the high water costs the school has been facing,” he said.
Claudine Allen, general manager of JN Foundation, said the team is keenly focused on building the
capacity of community agencies to achieve meaningful change.
“For the past two years, JN has invested approximately $30 million in initiatives like this, and
that’s a big deal for us,” she said.
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