Do you want to contribute to the empowerment of Jamaican girls? This is apparently the first crowd-funding campaign by a Jamaican high school. I suspect it may not be the last. If you are able, you may like to contribute.
30-Day Crowdfunding Campaign Launched by St. Andrew Class of 1998 on June 1, 2014
Beginning June 1, 2014 Support the Renovation of St. Andrew’s Lab 4 – Invest, Inspire, Empower – Because Girls in Science Matter
Kingston, Jamaica – June 1, 2014 – St. Andrew High School for Girls (St. Andrew or SAHS) in Kingston, Jamaica, urges you to join the Campaign to provide young girls in Jamaica with science education. The Because Girls in Science Matter Crowdfunding Campaign launches on Sunday, June 1, 2014 and will run for 30 days. The Campaign aims to raise USD$25,000 for the renovation of Lab 4 on the Old Science Block, which was built in 1944. For almost 90 years, St. Andrew has provided high-quality education to girls from across Jamaica. The Because Girls in Science Matter Crowdfunding Campaign builds on that tradition and will ensure that future generations of girls who come through St. Andrew’s gates at Cecelio Avenue have access to high quality science facilities and instruction. This Crowd-funding Campaign (http://www.razoo.com/story/St-Andrew-High-Science-Lab-4-Campaign-Because-Girls-In-Science-Matter) is the first of its kind for St. Andrew or for any high school in Jamaica, staying true to the pioneering spirit of St. Andrew and its graduates, fondly called Old Girls.
With the support of engaged alumnae, parents, and staff St. Andrew has over the past several years been making essential upgrades to its infrastructure which dates back to 1925 when the school was founded. Complete renovation of Lab 4 requires approximately USD$80,000 and work is expected to begin in June 2015. The time is right to use new methods to reach beyond the St. Andrew alumnae and friends. Supporters of the sciences, girls education, girls science education, the advancement of women in science, as well as those who are committed to the development of Jamaica can support the Because Girls in Science Matter Crowd-funding Campaign and be assured that your support will be wisely used to fulfill not only Lab 4’s renovation needs, but also to further the core educational mission of the St. Andrew High School for Girls.
This Campaign is being coordinated with the St. Andrew Foundation and the St Andrew Alumnae Association Inc, New York Chapter (also called the NYC Chapter), by a group of alumnae from the class of 1998. Because of the partnership with the NYC Chapter, all donations to the Because Girls in Science Matter Crowdfunding Campaign are tax-deductible in the U.S. Donations are therefore also eligible for corporate matching programs. Donations will be accepted through well-known charity crowd-funding platform Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/St-Andrew-High-Science-Lab-4-Campaign-Because-Girls-In-Science-Matter. Join the donors who have helped us to renovate the other three labs to show St. Andrew students that they matter; invest in their future, inspire them with your commitment, and empower them to do their best work.
Old Girl Renee-Lauren Ellis ‘98 heard about the Foundation’s fundraising success with the first three labs and was motivated to rally alumnae around the globe to give. Given the security and flexibility of various crowd-funding platforms, and the fact that other Jamaican institutions (such as the Alpha Boys School radio station and the Crayons Count Campaign Project of the Do Good Jamaica Foundation) have experienced success with crowd-funding, Ellis liaised with Jessica Jones of the St. Andrew Foundation and gathered a team of her classmates to plan and launch the “Because Girls in Science Matter” Crowd-funding Campaign.
Ellis notes, “In addition to our positive personal experiences in science at St. Andrew, our research confirmed that effective teaching and learning of science involves seeing, handling, and manipulating real objects and materials.” In fact, one source asserts that the knowledge the girls attain in classrooms would be ineffectual unless they actually observe the process and understand the relationship between action and reaction (Science First). This fund-raising campaign will not only provide money for Lab 4’s renovation, but it will free up the school’s limited budget for other expenses, such as field trips, teachers’ salaries, and even non-science related activities to ensure that a St. Andrew graduate is a well-rounded young lady.
WHAT: Because Girls in Science Matter Crowdfunding Campaign
WHEN: June 1, 2014 – June 30, 2014
DONATION PLATFORM: Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/St-Andrew-High-Science-Lab-4-Campaign-Because-Girls-In-Science-Matter
TWITTER: @SAHSScience #SAHSScience #SAHSLab4
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SAHSScience
EMAIL: SAHS.ScienceLab4@gmail.com
For media enquiries:
“Because Girls in Science Matter” Crowdfunding Campaign
Renee-Lauren Ellis SAHS.ScienceLab4@gmail.com
St. Andrew High School for Girls Foundation
Jessica Jones administrator@sahs.edu.jm
Petchary's Blog 
Thanks so much for your feature on our Campaign. Your support certainly helped us get started on a right note.
Today we exceeded our goal thanks to a donation from an anonymous alumna of St. Andrew who read about our Campaign and wanted to support. During the Campaign, other alumna have reached out to talk about their science and generally fond memories of St. Andrew, how much having gone to St. Andrew means to them, and how important it is for them to give back. It’s been an exciting and inspiring Campaign to say the least. But even though we’ve met our fundraising goal for June 2014, we’re not done yet because Lab 4 needs approximately USD$80,000 for complete renovation. So we will keep pushing until June 30 and we are already planning for the next stage of fundraising. We’ll keep you updated!
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Congratulations! This is just so wonderful – I mentioned your success in my blog yesterday. I hope you will continue to garner some more pledges before June 30. As they say, “Way to go!” And clearly crowd funding really is effective. Looking forward to more updates in due course.
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