Several students of the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf in St Andrew can now confidently venture into the soap-making industry, with certification from the Scientific Research Council (SRC). This follows a free training session, held on the school grounds in Gordon Town, St Andrew, recently, that engaged more than 20 students. The journey towards this workshop began with Tainia Taylor, a dedicated science and entrepreneurship teacher at the Lister Mair/Gilby High School.

Taylor said that the idea of this workshop emerged from discussions around equipping students with practical skill sets that would help them to become independent. She says the students' need for hands-on learning experiences came to the fore after she implemented an entrepreneurship programme at the school with the support of a colleague. “It has actually been a while that we have been trying to get it organised and I want to truly thank SRC for their willingness to collaborate, for jumping on board,” she said, noting that she is motivated by the school's vision to foster independence among its students.

Despite initial setbacks and challenges in securing resources, Taylor and her team persisted and worked closely with the SRC to make the workshop a reality, which culminated in an enriching experience for the students. “It was a beautiful experience. The students truly appreciated the chance to engage in something so hands-on and practical.

A lot of our students were very excited. They were .