How School2School™ Works

Choose your path: Adopt-A-School (with partnership), Support a Named School (contribution only), or Contribute to Pool (Ministry allocates)

The Process

Support restoration through named schools or pooled contributions. Choose your level of engagement.

Adopt-A-School

Choose a specific school, contribute to restoration, and build partnership connection with students and teachers throughout the process.

Support a Named School

Choose a specific school and contribute to restoration. No partnership or student connection—your support focuses solely on the physical environment.

Contribute to Pool

Your contribution goes into a pooled fund managed by AFJ and allocated by Jamaica's Ministry of Education to schools with the greatest restoration needs. No school selection required.

1
Ministry Identifies Classroom
Jamaica's Ministry of Education determines which classrooms need restoration

The Ministry of Education supports your choice to adopt-a-school by supporting a priority school, your named school if not a priority school, or identifies a school where the environment has been disrupted and confirms the specific restoration work needed if you are pooling your contribution. The restoration is completed locally by Jamaican school leadership and approved contractors who understand the school community.

Why This Matters:

Decisions come from Jamaica, from educators who know their schools—not from outsiders. The classroom chosen for restoration is the one where the physical environment is actively interfering with teaching and learning.

2
You Choose a Named School
Select a specific school from the Priority Schools list

You review the Priority Schools list and choose a specific school in Jamaica to support. You'll see the school's name, location, restoration needs, and estimated costs. Then you decide: Adopt-A-School (with partnership) or Support a Named School (contribution only).

What You'll Know:

  • • School name and location
  • • Specific restoration needs
  • • Estimated restoration costs
  • • Student population and grade levels
3
Classrooms Begin Simple Exchange (Adopt-A-School Only)
For schools who choose Adopt-A-School: students connect with their partner school

This step is only for Adopt-A-School. Once you've chosen your partner school, students can begin connecting. Schools figure out their own shared experience together—exchanging postcards, sharing videos or photos, collaborating on projects. There's no prescribed curriculum or required activities. Schools who choose Support a Named School skip this step entirely.

Examples of What Schools Have Done:

  • • Exchanged postcards with classroom introductions
  • • Shared photos of school days and celebrations
  • • Collaborated on simple science observations
  • • Sent greeting videos for holidays or milestones

These are examples, not templates. Schools figure out together what connection looks like based on their schedules, interests, and capacity.

4
AFJ Receives and Disburses Funds
Complete transparency and accountability through 501(c)(3) fiduciary

The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) receives the funds and disburses them directly to the restoration process under the Ministry's oversight. There is no informal handling of funds at any point. Every step of the financial pathway is documented and externally verifiable.

Financial Structure:

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) with 40+ years experience
All contributions are tax-deductible
Complete financial documentation and audits
5
Restoration Completed
Classroom environment restored to support learning

When the school is restored, both school communities acknowledge the moment together. The restored school becomes the shared touchpoint that continues to connect the classrooms across time. The relationship grows through ongoing exchange—steady, warm, and human.

Documentation Provided:

  • • Before and after photographs
  • • Summary of restoration work completed
  • • Itemized expenditure records
  • • Ministry verification
Relationship Continues (Adopt-A-School Only)
For Adopt-A-School: ongoing connection can continue if both schools wish

This applies only to Adopt-A-School. After restoration is complete, schools can choose to continue the relationship or conclude it naturally. Many schools end connection after restoration, and that's perfectly fine. For schools who wish to continue, they figure out together what ongoing connection looks like—exchanging photos, acknowledging milestones, sharing student work, or simply staying in gentle contact.

What Ongoing Connection Might Look Like (If Desired):

  • • Occasional school updates or celebrations
  • • Sharing photos from field trips or events
  • • Holiday greetings or milestone acknowledgments
  • • Simple check-ins when it feels right

There's no expectation or requirement. Schools can conclude partnership at any point, including immediately after restoration.

Clear Roles, Shared Purpose

Every partner has a specific role that makes the partnership work

School2School™

Coordinates the partnership invitation. We pair schools thoughtfully and create space for schools to figure out their own shared experience together. We provide communication support when helpful, but schools decide what connection looks like.

We do not manage funds, direct restoration work, or prescribe curriculum—we create the framework that enables organic school-to-school connection.

Ministry of Education (Jamaica)

Identifies and oversees restoration. The Ministry determines which classrooms need restoration and the specific scope of work. Restoration is carried out locally.

Decisions come from Jamaica, from educators who know their schools—not from outsiders.

American Friends of Jamaica

Manages all funds. AFJ is the fiduciary. All funds raised are contributed through AFJ and disbursed directly to the restoration process under Ministry oversight.

501(c)(3) with complete transparency, auditing, and documentation. All contributions tax-deductible.

Partner Organizations

School2School™ operates through a coordinated partnership: 21stCenturyEd (coordination), Ministry of Education Jamaica (oversight), American Friends of Jamaica (fiduciary), Jamaica STEM for Growth Foundation (local support), and Consulate General of Jamaica (diplomatic facilitation).

Ready to Begin a School Partnership?

Connect classrooms • Restore learning environments • Build lasting relationships

Questions? Contact us to learn more about the partnership process