The following is an article currently found in the St. Bess News:

University of Virginia students spent Easter holidays helping students at Sandy Bank Primary School in Treasure Beach.

Treasure Beach Foundation, a U.S. non-profit organization, coordinated the visit of 29 University of Virginia students to Treasure Beach the week of March 4.

The university students assisted at Sandy Bank Primary for that week, working with students in all grade levels. This is the third year the U of VA students have provided assistance at Sandy Bank.

The 29 students were selected from nearly 400 applicants at the U of VA. Several of them hailed from countries as far away as Belguim, Indonesia, Japan, and Zimbabwe bringing an internationl perspective to the Sandy Bank students.

As opposed to 'regular' spring breakers, these university students participated in what is known as Alternative Spring Break, a week of service-oriented activities in communities worldwide.

These students paid 100% of their expenses, having raised money for nearly a year in preparation for their trips.

Many who were in the 2007 group in Treasure Beach had been there in 2006 and were determined to return based on their exceedingly postivie experiences in 2006.

Rewarding

One of the participants told the organizers:

"Thank you for your efforts in coordinating our volunteer activities at Sandy Bank. I cannot begin to describe how much of an eye-opening and challenging experience I had when working at the school. The week was also extremely rewarding and enjoyable. I have never met a more open and caring group of people than the individuals I met in Treasure Beach. Their embrace was as warm as the Jamaican sun. I miss Jamaica already and long for my return.

I also thank you for the time and energy that you devote to the students of Sandy Bank. Please tell ther teachers and administrators of Sandy Bank how grateful I am for their willingness to allow a group of foreign college students to take over their classrooms for a week. The expereince truly changed my life."

Another said, "This trip was truly as memorable as the last year's. We all left Treasure Beach feeling ecstatic to have come and sad to be leaving. While certainly our enthusiasm and hard work added to the trip's overall success, nothing we achieved would have been possible without your constant commmitment to the project. We are enormously indebted to you."

Scholarships

Treasure Beach Foundation provides scholarships to promising students in the Treasure Beach area. The scholarship winners are selected on a competitive basis and are judged on their academic potential, ambition, initiative, and character. The scholarships cover school fees, transport, books and school supplies, uniforms, and lunches.

In 2006, Treasure Beach Foundation awarded scholarships valued in the range of $500,000 to five students as they progressed from grade six to grade seven.

Additionally, each of the recipients was provided with a laptop computer fully loaded with software. The five students currently attend Hampton Academy, Munro College, Black River High, Manchester High, and STETHS (St. Elizabeth Technicial High School).

In late June of 2007, Treasure Beach Foundation will award additional scholarships. Moreover, some amount of financial support will be granted to current recipients as they continue their studies.

Treasure Beach Foundation is headed by Karen Kennedy of Great Falls, Virginia. She and her husband, Peter, have been part of the Treasure Beach community for 21 years and own two guest villas in Treasure Beach.

Big Up University of Virginia students! Thanks so much for giving of your time and finances to come and share with us.

Congratulations to The Treasure Beach Foundation for another successful year!

I am so proud of all the fine young people from the University of Virginia who gave so freely of their time and energy (and hard-earned money) to work with the students from Sandy Bank Primary School.

Also, I wish to thank so many in the community who helped make their trip go as smoothly as it did. Mrs. Norma Moxam and Miss Zane Ebanks from Sandy Bank provided excellent leadership and coordination. Mrs. Effie Campbell and her energetic staff at 4Ms provided two delicious meals a day for 29 exceedingly hungry college students, 14 of whom stayed there. The people at Treasure Tours handled the reservations and accommodations for the remainder of the group -- another 15 students -- very professionally. Airport transportation for the 29 students was provided by Aman Parchment and three more drivers. Their Black River trip was handled by three wonderful captains -- Dennis Abrahams, Aman Parchment, and Ozzie (Richard) Parchment. And, Floyd provided a special lunch for them at the Pelican Bar. We sincerely appreciate the warm hospitality the entire community gave to these wonderful students.

As a volunteer from the University of Virginia, the Treasure Beach community really made me feel like family. I have visited Jamaica before, but not until I came to Treasure Beach did I really get to experience the culture and feel like more than just a tourist. I hope that all the students continue to work hard, because I know they're all smart enough to achieve their goals. And I know that the Treasure Beach Foundation can help make their dreams a reality. I truly had an amazing experience and I look forward to seeing everyone in Treasure Beach again!

I had never been to Jamaica and the students and administrators at Sandy Bank Primary School gave everyone from the University of Virginia a heartfelt and warm welcome. Not only did we find the students willing to work hard and dedicate themselves to their studies, we found the entire community of Treasure Beach willing to support them. Special thanks goes to the Treasure Beach Foundation, Mrs. Norma Moxam and Miss Zane Ebanks at Sandy Bank Primary School and most importantly, the students - who are the future of Treasure Beach, Jamaica. From all of us at the University of Virginia, thank you for making the trip so memorable.

Once again we the Principal and staff of the Sandy Bank Primary School had the opportunity of welcoming the students from the University of Virginia who chose to send their Spring Break doing something wonderful for others.These students are becoming an integral part of the Sandy Bank School family as each year we look forward to their coming. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge and lots of love in their hearts for the students and this is what we as teachers ask of anyone who comes through our gate.This year we not only had American students but students from Belguim, Indonesia, Japan and Zimbabwe in the group.They shared with the Grade Six students a lot of their culture and customs which was of great help to these children.These students will always be remembered by not only the children but the teachers as well.On behalf of the teachers and students I just want to say that their stay with us is greatly appreciated and there will always be a place in our heart for them. Thanks to Karen Karen Kennedy and the other members of the Treasure Beach Foundation for organizing this venture. We look forward for the next group who will be with us next year.ONE LOVE and God bless these students as they go forward in life.

We students owe thanks and respect to the faculty of Sandy Bank primary school, the Treasure Beach Foundation, and the community of Treasure Beach.

- Austin Chamberlin

I can not think of a better way to spend Spring Break than with the wonderful people in Treasure Beach and the great students at Sandy Bank Primary School. I loved the time I spent in Grade 2, and offer a speical thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make our group feel welcome, espcially Miss Effie and Mrs. Moxam. More thanks to Karen Kennedy for her help in arranging the trip and her great work with the Treasure Beach Foundation. I look forward to returning next year!

I want to thank Sandy Banks Primary school and the Treasure Beach community for offering such a warm embrace and the opportunity to teach a subject I love and to learn a lesson I needed. As a university student I frequently find myself content in my academic bubble, the land where the outside world ceases to exist. I forget about the true power and relevance of learning. For me, Jamaica was a reminder. Teaching the kids of Sandy Banks to find their written voice, knowing that with the help of a scholarship they could carry that voice proudly to the next level, filled me with joy.
As a whole, my experience in Jamaica was delightfully foreign, different, and beautiful. I feel like one of my students did a pretty good job of capturing this idea of abstract beauty in this acrostic she wrote for class:
"Singing
Horrible
As
Nina Simone
Elligible
Angels with no bones."

(Copyright pending Olethia)

-Caleb Euhus

So wonderful to know how unselfish these college students are. It does my heart good to learn of things like this at a time when too many current events leave me feeling empty. The world is looking up.

Although our visit to Treasure Beach was my first trip out of the country and one of only a handful out of Virginia, I believe it will be the highlight of a lifetime. I have never been around so many people, young or old, who were so genuinely happy to see us, as well as those who could teach me more than I could ever imagine learning from them. I believe it is safe to say that from this experience, we took away just as much as the children. To my awesome grade 6 boys and girls...I miss you! I can still see your smiles and hear your laughter. If only we could have stayed longer...we miss you Sandy Bank!

I want to express my gratitude to Sandy Bank and the Treasure Beach Foundation for a truly rewarding experience. When I first found out that I would be teaching six grade students about the digestive and reproductive systems, I was shocked and nervous. However, the curiosity, respect, and joy that the students demonstrated set me at ease. All too often I doubt my dreams of becoming a doctor and doing public health work when I graduate from college. Yet, after spending a week at Sandy Bank, I feel more confident in my ambitions than ever before. My heart goes out to all those members of the Treasure Beach community who made me feel at home, and I am anxious to return next year.