The school features some of the most modern facilities in the region, most of which are aimed at maintaining the school’s self-sustainability.
Buildings
JAMS features dormitories and classrooms capable of hosting about 200 students. A spacious dining hall can seat more than 800 people. The kitchen features fuel efficient wood burning stoves. One of the classrooms is a music room where students learn how to play music instruments and compose; it also houses the tailoring facility.
The science facility, the Albert and Patricia Sparks Science Building, was completed in 2018 and houses up-to-date equipment. It consists of separate physics, chemistry and biology labs complete with prep-rooms and teachers’ offices.
The newest facility is the resource center – it houses the administration offices, the staffroom, a fully equipped conference room, a very spacious library, and a computer lab with internet access. It also has a community room that can be used by the local people to hold meetings.
JAMS also strives to house all its staff. There are staff quarters which at the moment can house teachers (singles and married) and non-teaching staff. It is the goal of JAMS to be able to house all its staff in the next three years. 99% of all buildings at JAMS have solar power installed to reduce dependency on grid power, and to reduce the overall cost of energy.
Borehole
A grant from the Rotary Club of Barrington, IL USA, facilitated the drilling and installation of a 100 m deep borehole that produces over 10,000 liters of water day using solar energy.
Dairy
Through support from Dairies in Developing Countries, and the Rotary Club of the Holmen Area in Wisconsin USA, in an effort that started in 2014, JAMS now has a dairy with approximate 6 milking cows at any given time. The school is now sufficient in milk and sells the excess to the community.
Chicken coop
Generous donors in DeKalb County, Illinois USA, provided funds for the construction of a chicken coop in 2015. The school now produces its own eggs. There are approximately 200 to 250 laying birds in the coop at any given time.
The Greenhouse
Through a grant from various Rotary clubs in the Northern Illinois area USA (Barrington, Kishwaukee Sunrise, just to name a few), JAMS was able to acquire and construct a 50 by 30 foot greenhouse. The greenhouse produces sufficient tomatoes for the school and for sale to local communities as part of the JAMS sustainability plan.
Other Facilities
JAMS has two other significant facilities that are focused on its plans for self-sustainability:
- A piggery built with generous donations from friends in the DeKalb County, Illinois USA, area now houses about 20 hogs.
- A unit that houses about 25 lambs.
Both these are part of the sustainability plan of the school.