The project replaces the original preschool, which was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The new facility is expected to be officially handed over to the Ministry of Education on August 11, providing a modern, resilient learning environment for young children in the Soufrière community.
Managing Director of Jungle Bay, Sam Raphael, said the initiative began after the resort appealed to its guests and staff for support in rebuilding the school.
“We reached out to our guests and our staff, and together we were able to raise the funds. One of our guests, through their family’s foundation, made a significant contribution, allowing us to begin construction earlier this year,” Raphael explained.
He noted that the original wooden structure lacked the resilience needed to withstand major storms. In contrast, the replacement building has been designed almost to hurricane shelter standards, with reinforced concrete construction, including a concrete roof, to provide greater protection during severe weather events.
The new preschool will also feature expanded classroom space, an upgraded playground, accessible facilities for children with disabilities, secure fencing and landscaped outdoor areas. According to Raphael, the design also allows room for future expansion as the community grows.
Beyond the building itself, Jungle Bay is equipping the preschool with early childhood educational materials and classroom resources to help create what Raphael described as a model learning environment.
“We are also equipping the school with learning tools and early education materials. We want this to be a model school, and we’re grateful that many of our guests chose to support this project,” he said.
Raphael added that the project reflects Jungle Bay’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. He pointed out that the resort itself was developed with support from Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, creating what he described as a responsibility to contribute to the country’s development.
“Our staff also contributed through a portion of their tips, helping to get the project started. From there, our guests came through in a tremendous way,” he said.
Once completed, the new Soufrière Preschool is expected to provide a safer, more modern educational environment for generations of young learners while serving as an example of how partnerships between the private sector, local communities and international supporters can help strengthen education infrastructure in Dominica.
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