Backyard school brings hope to Bullet Tree’s young students

Amid the rubble left behind by Hurricane Melissa, two Westmoreland siblings are still ringing the school bell, underscoring the belief that "every child can learn, and every child must learn".

In the Bullet Tree community of Petersfield, Rory Vassell, 31, and his sister Sashana Kinglock, 35, have transformed their yard into a free learning centre called Bullet Tree United Community School. For Vassel, the goal is simply to keep the youth engaged and learning despite the disruption caused by the hurricane.

Vassell said his inspiration came from reflecting on his own son, who sometimes struggled academically after long breaks from school.

"Mi have a son, when he gets break from school -- like holiday or so on -- if you not keeping him up to date, him drop back," Vassell said. "So that pushed me more to say, I will have to teach my son. But while doing so, it make sense to teach other kids," he explained.

A digital marketer by profession, Vassell admits he has his limitations but finds creative ways to overcome them.

Kinglock, a former early childhood educator-turned-wedding concierge, did not hesitate when the idea was proposed. She explained that keeping children engaged is crucial, especially after long periods away from school.

"If they are here doing nothing, everything will just fly out of their heads at some point," she said.

"What I realise is that with young children, once you get them at this stage to teach them stuff, it will retain. Remember, when you are younger, it's the stage we learn things and hold onto them -- these are the important stages," she added.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck on October 28, dealt a crippling blow to Jamaica's education system, particularly in the western parishes, leaving many schools damaged and communities struggling to recover. While some institutions have managed to reopen their doors for students preparing for Caribbean Examinations Council-administered exams, younger children remain largely underengaged, with limited access to structured learning.

Bullet Tree's backyard learning space serves children ages three to 13 years old, with classes held weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To keep students on track, Vassel uses his son's textbooks as a guide.

"I take my son's textbook, mi look in science, language arts, and mathematics, and we find the work and give it to them," he said. He also challenges their creativity with art and craft projects, like making flower pots from cement and towels.

Understanding the age differences among students, the siblings tailor lessons to suit each group.

"We have two boards. Today, for example, we started with 'PH' words. For the older children, we cover the PH words, their meanings, and ask them to make sentences. For the younger ones, I also introduce 'PH' words but give them smaller words, and then I create the sentence and ask them to underline," Kinglock explained.