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Reach One Reach A Million - Bringing hope to those in need
At Reach One Reach A Million, we are dedicated to providing support and resources to those in need. Our mission is to make a positive impact on the world by helping those who are struggling. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of many.
Help Donhaye Walters to continue positively influencing present and future generations in Jamaica. Reach One Reach A Million Ministries is raising money to support the building of Talented Minds Academy, a school for children ages 3-6 years old located in Wakesfield, a small town in the parish of Trelawny on the northern coast of Jamaica.
The History of Talented Minds Academy
Although officially started in 2020, the vision for Talented Minds Academy existed long before that. In the words of the founder, Donhaye Walters: "Whilst working in high schools, I observed that whatever I would impart at that time, whatever impact that I would've had or made, would be minuscule as their personalities would've already been developed. This drove me to start thinking that the best way to create lasting change was to start from the early years where you could mold and make the beautiful values that our society so desires. From my academic studies and my experiences, I knew that positive change could be made by interacting with each child and nurturing their mind by making learning, interacting and being at school fun and engaging. I desire to help young minds learn to be positive and intelligent whilst becoming the best versions of themselves.
When the pandemic hit and we were all stuck at home, the community I was living in at the time was in turmoil as most of the children could not attend classes as they either had parents who could not read to help them or they had no internet. At that time my friends and I had rented a house that had a room that was unoccupied; we mainly used it for games and such. My current business partner jokingly said that we could gather all the kids to teach them and, lo and behold, our Talented Minds Academy started. Our one empty room became full and soon we had to purchase a tarp for sessions outside when there was no rain. The parents soon started paying us what they had, as low as $200 JMD to $500 JMD for those who could afford it; others came for free. We used our internet to help with online classes; we provided personal tutoring for low level readers; and we also offered kindergarten classes for those who were 2-4 years old who had never been enrolled in schools.
That all came to an end when our landlord heard what we were doing and gave us notice as she said that we were now using our house for commercial purposes. We struggled to find an empty building for months until we had to move to another parish. My friend and I never stopped searching for land or empty buildings until we finally stumbled upon an old house covered in bushes; it had as many rooms as we needed and even covered in dust, we saw classrooms. We used all of our savings and helped the owner to renovate and gather the furniture and basic resources that we needed. It was urgent as we had parents coming to us stating that there was not enough space in other schools and they needed their children enrolled."
What's Next?
Donhaye has gained valuable experience as a teacher and educational leader. She hopes to continue positively impacting her community through Talented Minds Academy. She has found land and desires to establish her own building to continue providing learning experiences and opportunities for Jamaican youth.
Who is Donhaye Walters?
Born and raised in Jamaica, Donhaye attended Wakesfield Primary School, Buff Bay Primary School, and Titchfield High School. After graduating in 2012 with her high school diploma, Donhaye obtained a two-year academic and athletic scholarship to attend the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport; she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and second class honors. Since 2016, Donhaye has been teaching in a variety of schools.
"Help by Being a Part of Changing Lives through Education". Be a part of the change and help Donhaye to positively influence both present and future generations in Jamaica.
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Your donation can make a real difference in the lives of these children. Help us to continue our vital work by giving what you can today.