Overcrowding in the Jamaican public school system means that accessing education is not always easy for children and young people, and for children with disabilities, it’s even more challenging.

The Savanna-La-Mar Inclusive Academy (Sav Inclusive) in Westmoreland is a pioneer in inclusive education in Jamaica’s public education system. Conceptualised and built by the Rockhouse Foundation, the school has been catering for children with disabilities and typical learning children in a productive, inclusive environment since 2017. There are currently 170 children enrolled in classes ranging from age 3 to 8 years. But since welcoming its first student cohort, the school has been unable to satisfy the overwhelming demand for inclusive education in Savanna-La-Mar. So, the focus of the Rockhouse Foundation is on expanding the facility to include a fully sustainable primary and secondary school that accommodates another 480 students.

The expansion of the school involves the construction of additional buildings fully serviced by a climate friendly infrastructure, including solar power, water harvesting and recycling systems. Climate change and climate action are the cornerstones of the school’s curriculum. This integrated approach ensures that the entire student population benefits from hands-on, age-appropriate activities, moulding young minds into responsible, environmentally conscious adults.

Students learn about the cost effectiveness of sustainable practices and the effect of them on their personal lives, families, community and the planet. 40 educators and staff are receiving hands-on training, helping them to design creative programmes and activities to engage students and their families and increase their awareness of the urgent need for climate action.

Additionally, school personnel are learning about the damaging effects of relying on non-renewable energy sources and the importance the efficient use and storage of rainwater. The project encourages the school community to practice simple energy, recycling and water conservation techniques, at school, home and in their communities.

Joint field trips and workshops with five other public schools in the parish of Westmoreland which are also supported by Rockhouse Foundation drives additional motivation for more schools to implement similar recycling and clean energy water harvesting systems at their facilities. This means an estimated 2,000 students and adults switch to environmentally sustainable practices.