Things are finally looking up for 14-year-old Danesha Daxon and the other 32 students of the Crooked Island High School.  It has been more than three months since their school lay in waste in the wake of Hurricane Irene. The category two hurricane which passed through Crooked Island in late August impacted the historical school's structure beyond repair, resulting in the students having to be housed in a temporary school environment at a local resort since the beginning of the school year.

Since then many efforts have been made to rebuild the school so the students and the community can return to normal.  In response to this cry, the Chinese government, which has a budding relationship with The Bahamas, leading to numerous generous donations, has recently stepped up to the plate to lend a hand in repairing the southern school.  Its donation of $10,000 was presented to Minister of Education Desmond Bannister by Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Hu Shan, in a ceremony on Monday.

This donation is something students like Daxon hope will bring the necessary relief to their educational plight.  "I was very nice for [the Chinese government] to give the school money so it can be rebuilt. It shows they really care and want to see us excel. We are doing what we can with what we have, but it's not always easy. It means a lot to me. We currently go to school at the Bayfront resort. I am happy they let us be here, but it's a little small for us and I hope our school can open again soon," she says.

Principal of the Crooked Island School Jerome Forbes, says he is greatly appreciative of the gift from the Chinese government, as the island's school means so much more than most would imagine.  "This donation means so much to the community. It's important because the school on Crooked Island is totally destroyed and it's more than just another school. Being the only high school on the island, it is a community school that everyone uses," he says.

"The different programs like Bahama Host, shell craft classes and even programs for those who want to take private continued education classes, often have to be hosted in the school. It's a community space and there is so much we do there so getting things back in order is vital."
In finally repairing the school the principal hopes to re-start the regular programs the school had implemented, like computer studies and agriculture, to help keep students up-to-date. Once the school is back to its original glory, the principal hopes to focus on upgrading the school even more in time, so the students never feel left out, although they don't have all the resources other schools have.

"I am hoping by the next school year or sooner everything can be ready, so students can attend it and things are normal again. I am very excited and thankful for all the support we are getting, and I hope everything continues to move as smoothly as it has," says the principal.  Minister Bannister says it is of utmost importance to rebuild the Crooked Island High School because it is the birthplace of secondary education in the Family Islands. It was the first central secondary school to be established in the country.

The Chinese ambassador said the motive behind the donation is only that China attaches great significance to education, especially as it relates to the long-term wellbeing of a nation.  "Like The Bahamas, China attaches great importance to education, which is reflected by a popular saying in China, which literally reads, 'In a hundred-year strategy, education is the base'. The deep meaning is that education is of fundamental importance to the fulfillment of a nation's long range mission," said the ambassador.

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