Rebuilding Hope: Christos Ministries Launches $300,000 Campaign to Restore Leeds Primary & Infant School in Jamaica

Mervyn Levy • November 3, 2025

When the sun rose over the hills of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on March 10, 2025, the small community of Leeds awoke to heartbreak. Smoke still drifted from the blackened remains of their beloved Leeds Primary & Infant School — a century-old cornerstone of the community that had stood for generations as a place of learning, laughter, and hope.


The fire had started late the previous night, tearing through several critical sections of the school: the principal’s office, staff room, library, and a classroom. By morning, little was left but ash, twisted metal, and memories. Teachers wept as they sifted through the debris. Children stood silently, clutching their books and uniforms, trying to make sense of what had happened to their second home. The estimated loss — over J$50 million (approximately US $320,000) — is devastating for this rural parish. Leeds Primary & Infant School isn’t just a building; it’s a symbol of opportunity in a community where education represents the only bridge to a brighter future.


“Everything is gone.”

Those were the haunting words of Principal Sharon Bennett, speaking to local reporters the morning after the fire. Decades of progress, supplies, and hard-earned improvements — gone overnight. Yet amid the ashes, something powerful began to stir. The people of Leeds refused to lose hope. Parents volunteered to clean the grounds. Teachers began holding lessons under trees and in borrowed community spaces. And soon, word spread beyond Jamaica — reaching the hearts of compassionate believers around the world.


A Call to Rebuild

Christos Ministries International (CMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and restoring educational facilities for children in under-resourced communities, answered that call. For years, Christos Ministries has been committed to helping children access safe, quality education — from constructing new classrooms to equipping schools with essential resources and technology. Their mission is simple yet profound: to transform communities through Christ-centered education and compassionate action. Now, they are launching one of their most urgent initiatives yet — a $300,000 fundraising campaign to rebuild and fully restore Leeds Primary & Infant School.


A School at the Heart of the Community

Leeds Primary & Infant isn’t a large institution. It serves fewer than 200 students, yet its influence radiates across generations. For families in this rural part of St. Elizabeth, the school is the heartbeat of the village. It’s where parents once sat on those same benches decades ago. It’s where grandparents come to watch concerts, graduations, and community meetings. It’s the first place every child in Leeds learns to read, to dream, and to believe that a better life is possible.


When the fire struck, it didn’t just destroy classrooms — it interrupted the rhythm of the community’s daily life. Students preparing for their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams were displaced. Teachers lost years of instructional materials and resources. And yet, the spirit of resilience that defines Jamaica refused to be extinguished.


With support from the Jamaican Ministry of Education, temporary classrooms have been set up, and some areas of the school have been cleaned and cleared. But full restoration — rebuilding the classrooms, installing new furniture and equipment, and creating a safe, modern learning environment — will take far more resources than the local community can provide on its own.


Christos Ministries Steps In

Christos Ministries is no stranger to rebuilding what’s been lost. Founded on the belief that “every child deserves the right to learn in safety and dignity,” the organization has been instrumental in constructing and restoring schools across the Caribbean and beyond. Their approach is holistic. Christos Ministries doesn’t just build walls — they build futures. Each project includes not only physical reconstruction, but also the provision of furniture, educational materials, and teacher support. For the Leeds project, the plan includes:

  • Rebuilding the destroyed classrooms, library, and administrative offices
  • Installing updated electrical and fire safety systems
  • Providing new furniture, technology, and learning resources
  • Creating a safe playground and outdoor learning area for students
  • Establishing a “Hope Fund” for ongoing maintenance and teacher development


The goal is not simply to replace what was lost — but to make it better than before.


The $300,000 Vision

Raising $300,000 will make it possible to restore the Leeds Primary & Infant School to full operation and expand its capacity for future generations.

  • $100,000 will go toward construction and materials
  • $75,000 toward furnishings and educational equipment
  • $50,000 toward fire safety, wiring, and structural upgrades
  • $50,000 for technology and learning tools
  • $25,000 for teacher support, training, and ongoing maintenance


Every dollar raised will directly contribute to rebuilding the heart of this community.


Why This Matters

For many of the children at Leeds Primary & Infant, education is not just about reading and writing — it’s about survival and opportunity. In rural Jamaica, access to quality education can determine whether a child escapes the cycle of poverty or remains trapped within it.

As Christos Ministries Founder [Insert Leader’s Name] put it:

“When a school burns, a community’s light goes out. But when we rebuild, that light shines brighter than ever — because now, the world knows they are not alone.”

Through this campaign, Christos Ministries invites donors, churches, and partners around the globe to be part of that light.


How You Can Help

Rebuilding a school is more than a construction project — it’s an act of faith and love. Christos Ministries is calling on individuals, families, and businesses to join the effort in one of three ways:

  1. Donate: Every contribution, large or small, brings the project closer to completion.
  2. Sponsor a Classroom: Major donors can dedicate a classroom, library section, or playground area in honor of a loved one or organization.
  3. Share the Story: Awareness is power. Spreading the word about Leeds Primary & Infant helps inspire others to act.


Donations can be made securely at www.christos-ministries.org

Project Completed

By Mervyn Levy • September 3, 2025
Dear Christos Ministries Supporters, Your unwavering support has enabled Christos Ministries to complete our eighth school project in Jamaica. As a supporter of Christos Ministries, you are more than a contributor. You are a partner in providing educational opportunities for under-served communities. The St. Robert Bellarmine Preparatory School was founded in 1962. The school serves approximately 12 communities surrounding the Chapelton area with an enrollment of more than 200 students. The high academic performance of its students, along with the school’s vibrant extracurricular program and dedicated staff, have resulted in a long student waiting list. The completed project provided the school with a new school building complete with 4 classrooms, bathroom facilities for the students and faculty, kitchen, playground, rainwater harvesting and storage system, and exterior fencing. The new building addresses classroom overcrowding and provides an exceptional learning environment for the 3-6 year old students.

5 Reasons Education Is the Most Powerful Gift You Can Give

By Thomas Minieri • June 3, 2025
In the lush hills and vibrant towns of Jamaica, where reggae rhythms echo through the streets and the island sun casts its golden glow, there exists a quieter, more urgent reality: thousands of children are growing up without access to a stable education. In too many communities, children walk miles to reach overcrowded, under-resourced classrooms. Others are left behind altogether—trapped not by a lack of potential, but by a lack of opportunity. For these children, the most powerful gift anyone can offer isn’t just food or clothing. It’s not even temporary shelter or healthcare, though those needs matter. The most powerful, transformative gift is education. Here are five reasons why education is the most lasting, life-changing gift you can give—especially in places like Jamaica—and how your support can spark a ripple effect that lasts for generations. 1. Education Breaks the Cycle of Poverty Poverty isn’t just a lack of money—it’s a system of limitations. It limits what children believe is possible for their future. It limits their access to jobs, resources, and dignity. But education flips the script. A quality education equips a child with more than just literacy and math. It gives them the tools to think critically, dream boldly, and pursue a future beyond their current circumstances. According to UNESCO, each additional year of schooling can increase a person’s income by up to 10%. That impact is multiplied in communities where opportunities are scarce. In rural and impoverished Jamaican communities, education is the most realistic and effective long-term solution to poverty. When a child gains access to a proper school, they gain a foundation—one that empowers them to lift not just themselves, but their families, out of generational poverty. 2. It Protects Vulnerable Children When children aren’t in school, they are more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and unsafe environments. In some areas of Jamaica, where tourism flourishes but economic inequality persists, many children fall prey to trafficking, child labor, or early pregnancy—all of which derail their future before it even begins. Education acts as a shield. A school is more than a building—it’s a safe haven. A place where children are supervised, mentored, and taught to believe in their self-worth. Schools become a second home, filled with role models, structure, and hope. By supporting the construction of safe, local schools in Jamaica, you are helping protect children from the dangers of the street—and replacing those dangers with dignity, structure, and opportunity. 3. It Empowers Girls and Strengthens Communities In many underdeveloped areas, including rural parts of Jamaica, girls face unique challenges in accessing education. Cultural expectations, domestic duties, and poverty often keep them at home. Yet when girls are educated, everything changes. Educated girls are: Less likely to marry young More likely to earn an income More likely to invest in their families’ health and education When girls go to school, entire communities thrive. Educated women become community leaders, advocates, and stabilizers. They start businesses, raise healthier children, and influence generations. A gift to education is a gift to gender equity—and it’s one of the smartest investments you can make if you want to transform a region from the inside out. 4. It Builds Peace and Reduces Crime In areas of high unemployment and poverty, crime rates naturally rise. Young people without access to education are statistically more likely to engage in gangs or criminal behavior—not out of desire, but out of survival. In contrast, education instills values like cooperation, responsibility, and hope. It provides a roadmap out of desperation. Studies from the World Bank show a direct correlation between education access and reduced violence. In Jamaica, where communities are often plagued by unemployment and instability, a new school doesn’t just help students—it stabilizes neighborhoods. It signals to everyone that change is possible. That a better future is being built, brick by brick. 5. It Leaves a Legacy That Outlives You The most powerful gifts are the ones that keep giving—long after we’re gone. Education is one of those gifts. When you give toward building a school in Jamaica, you’re not just helping a child today. You’re shaping the trajectory of their entire life. You’re helping them learn to read, write, think, solve problems, and one day—teach others. You’re sowing seeds of hope that may grow into businesses, churches, clinics, or nonprofits. Your gift creates ripple effects that will still be felt decades from now. Every classroom is a launchpad. Every student, a future leader. Every donation, a legacy. 🎓 The Mission of Christos Ministries At Christos Ministries, we are on a mission to change the story for children in underdeveloped countries—starting with Jamaica. We raise funds to construct educational facilities in communities where children need them most. But we don’t stop at buildings. We also provide ongoing financial support to ensure those facilities thrive long-term. Our goal is simple: every child deserves a future worth dreaming about. And we believe the best way to unlock that future is through access to safe, consistent, Christ-centered education. 🙌 How You Can Help The need is urgent. Right now, there are children in Jamaica who want to learn but have no school to attend. They are bright, curious, full of potential—but waiting. You can be the answer to their prayer. 👉 Your donation today will help us build the next school. It will provide desks, supplies, teachers, and the foundation for a future that doesn’t yet exist. We invite you to give generously—because the most powerful gift you can give isn’t just a donation. It’s a doorway to a new life. 🟡 Donate Now – Give the Gift of Education Together, let’s build something that will stand the test of time.
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