Supporting the community’s ‘oasis’
AKEY secret to Tropical Metal Products’ (TMP) longevity is its unwavering support of social causes in the community in which it operates, perhaps none more deserving than the Riverton Meadows Early Childhood Centre.
One might not guess it at first glance, but Junior Rowe, the principal of the Riverton Meadows school (the compound hosts so much more than a basic school), is a human dynamo of social development. Somewhat away from the spotlight, the institution has, for 42 years, proved an oasis in the midst of the somewhat bleak landscape of Kingston's Riverton City. And Rowe's heart for the Riverton area (Shanty Town, Calaloo Mews, Top Riverton, and the many unofficial sub-divisions within those) becomes evident as soon as the topic is raised. After all, Rowe is a product of the community, having grown up there himself.
“The centre came into being through the pioneering work of the St Patrick's Foundation and the late Monsignor Richard Albert, who saw the need to have a facility to offer hope to the families of the area through education. From its humble beginnings, the centre today serves over 120 young children through 21 staff members, including six volunteers.”
PARTNERSHIP
Rowe says he met TMP stalwart the late Isolyn McKinley at a time when the institution was seeking to sustain a paid nurse and funds were low. The TMP co-founder not only came to the rescue on that one occasion, but proved to be – along with her husband – a staunch supporter and active participant in the life and affairs of the centre, even to the point of having one of the school’s sports day houses named after her and sponsoring the presentation of an award to an outstanding student. Her daughter, Judith, has since taken up the mantle.
The centre gets support from other corporate entities and has after all a full suite of related and indirect activities, but Rowe says that level of personal involvement from the McKinley family and the company as a whole has cemented TMP in his heart, as well as those of the children and families, and says even through the periodic flareups in the community, the company has not been a target of any criminal activity.
For the future, he is looking to develop a relationship with the HEART Trust/NTA to certify the skilled youth in the community. “There are a lot of young men and women in this area with proven skills, so we want to help them get to the next level through certification,” he points out. Rowe also wants to deepen existing partnerships – such as with the Social Development Commission as well as initiate a mentorship programme – worthy initiatives that he is sure he can call on TMP to support not just materially, but from the heart.