Vincentian Diaspora in UK donates to education system

THE SVG VINCENTIAN Diaspora in the United Kingdom continues to give back, this time through a generous donation to assist the education system of this country.

In a short ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce on Tuesday March 5, the St Vincent and the Grenadines and Friends Association (Reading), England and the St Vincent and the Grenadines New London Association donated a combined sum of EC$6,825 to the three Schools for Children With Special Needs in SVG. The SVG Reading Association donated EC$3,150 while SVG New London Association donated EC$3,675.

Michelle Stowe, Headteacher received the donation on behalf of the Bequia Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs; teacher Sattra Phillips collected the donation on behalf of the School with Special Needs, Georgetown, while Nassem Smith, Headteacher received the donation on behalf of the School of Children with Special Needs, Kingstown.

During the ceremony, Sir Louis Straker, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce highlighted the very important work that is being done through the SVG, High Commission London under the auspices of High Commissioner Cenio Lewis and his staff; especially in collaboration with the Vincentian Diaspora in the UK. Straker expressed gratitude to Dudrey Browne, Vice Chair of the SVG and Friends Association, UK and Denzil Winsborrow, Chairman, New London Association, UK for the donation, who both handed over the donation to the schools.

High Commissioner Lewis also gave brief remarks and expressed that the donation though it may seem infinitesimal, he would like the public to understand that the principle behind the donation is of utmost importance.

The principle of giving back to your country, especially to the needs of the most vulnerable. High Commissioner Lewis emphasized that in the future when funds are collected from the Associations to be distributed to schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that donation will be distributed to the School of Children with Special needs along with other schools in the country.

The donation to the Schools of Children With Special Needs would be used to purchase several items to assist the children’s education development. These include textbooks and teaching aids for Bequia; materials for an Art project and multisensory equipment for Kingstown; and garden tools, fabric, crayons and playground equipment for Georgetown.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce and the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, expressed gratitude to the SVG and Friends Association (Reading), England and the SVG New London Association for their continuous efforts in contributing to the economic development of this country be it healthcare, education or otherwise.