Written by Samantha Hardy, Playa Hotels and Resorts

Over the course of any given year, Playa Hotels and Resorts dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to making an impact on the local community and giving back to the destinations in which they live. Whether it’s restoration or reforestation projects, or hosting children with cancer for a day of fun on property, the number of the lives that are impacted by these actions are insurmountable.

Granville All-Age School is located approximately 35 minutes from the resort town of Montego Bay in the Mountains of St. James and is the primary public-school facility that serves this local community that bears the same name. With 404 students currently enrolled, the physical appearance of the school was in disarray with many areas in desperate need of repair until recently. The HR team of Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall took this project under their wing and completely transformed the school. They were able to get the whole hotel involved in the transformation process.

They have created a soccer field for the children to play, a garden and green house to teach the children farm to table practices. Created a water filtration system to bring the students fresh drinking water and even created a sick bay. Without the help of this HR team the students attending Granville would not be given the many advantages that they are given today.