Executive Chairman of ARC Manufacturing, Norman Horne and members of his team entered an uncharted territory recently, presenting to Grade 1 students at Dupont Primary & Infant School and gifting them with a selection of reading books.

The move, Horne said, was a result of joining the global conversation about reading — a powerful tool to further education and inspire future leaders.

“Use these books as your tools to become the policemen, the doctors, nurses, and lawyers you want to be when you grow up, “ he told the students.

“We are here to guide you, our future leaders, along that journey, and it all starts here, with these books, that I am sure you will treasure,” he added.

ARC is one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fencing, roofing and other building materials and serves both domestic and international markets.

With some 70% of its 350-strong workforce originating from communities in proximity to its Bell Road/Development Road main office, ARC said it is committed to community development and added that the book donation to Dupont Primary and Infant was another example.

For Principal Andrew Rowe, the contribution was well appreciated.

“Our children are at a stage where they soak up everything around them. So, we are happy to have role models in our community who assist us with providing quality education for our students,” he said.

“We are grateful for assistance of this nature, which we can use to make a significant and lasting impact,” Rowe added.

Published in The Jamaica Observer.