“We have kids going into primary schools, who don’t know how to read, and we have kids in basic schools who don’t have books, we have to do it now – this is the year – to change the generation.”
-Deika Morrison, 2012, Founder of Crayons Count
The state of early childhood education in Jamaica has been one of heated debate as the nation’s future hangs in the balance. That future is Jamaica’s children who are often left at a disadvantage due to the lack of basic resources, even at the early childhood level. A deficit of simple items such as crayons and paint has taken the opportunity to shine and excel out of the hands of these children. Crayons Count is making steps to end the problems that plague our education system with one simple tool: a crayon.
The Crayons Count project was officially launched with two simple objectives in February of 2012: to increase the awareness of the importance of early childhood education and good early childhood practices and to provide recommended learning resources to early childhood institutions across Jamaica.
The campaign became a reality with the support with more than 100 organizations and hundreds of thousands of individuals. Major sponsors were National Baking Company and The Gleaner Company Ltd. Foundations of other corporations that supported included Digicel Jamaica Foundation, Sandals Foundation, Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation, the ICWI Foundation. Significant support was provided by non-corporate entities such as the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, the US Embassy in Jamaica, Food For The Poor and the CHASE Fund, for example. And invaluable media support was also provided by Palace Amusement, TVJ/RJR Group, CVM Group, MegaJamz, Klas FM. See the full list of sponsors and partners.
The creation of Crayons Count learning kit was born with guidance from the Early Childhood Commission. These kits were filled with interactive learning tools that were colorful age appropriate, dynamic and relevant. These learning tools were geared towards encouraging students to manipulate, share, discuss and investigate which would build on their critical thinking and analytic skills. They included 13 categories of recommended learning tools: books, puzzles, manipulatives, crayons, paints, blocks, balls, puppets, glue sticks, paper, scissors, paint and paint brushes.
Crayons Count was on a mission and in that same year, 2012, Crayons Count distributed a standard set of learning tools to close to 2,400 basic and infant schools across Jamaica. Teachers, parents and students were all excited with the introduction of these tools which gave the children the opportunity to reach their full potential. Crayons Count was able to help change a generation; to reverse the cycle of mistrust, academic under-performance and pain. They did it and so can you.
Donate to Crayons Count and be a part of changing a generation for 2013.
We can’t leave it to anybody else.
For more information, read Crayons Do Count
