Grantley Adams Memorial School has become the first secondary school to benefit from Red Foundation’s bag programme.
The initiative, which is part of the It Takes A Village project, saw 15 haversacks filled with stationery handed over to the school’s acting principal Andrew Skeete during a presentation at the Barbados Yacht Club, Bay Street, St Michael, on Friday.
Red Foundation founder, Stedson Red Plastic Bag Wiltshire, explained they realised some parents, and as a result, children, were struggling to get the basic tools needed for school, and they came up with the drive.
So, over the past year with the assistance of the Barbadian diaspora living in Florida, they gave about six schools, including Hilda Skeene and St Marks Primary, similar gifts.
“We know that there are some children within the schools who struggle at the beginning of terms and during the school year to be able to get the basic stuff they need for school. So, through my connection with The Coalition for the Barbados Association of Central Florida, they came on board and gave us support in terms of helping schools in Barbados. I want to thank them for all the support they have been giving us in this regard,” RPB said as he pledged the foundation’s support in the continuation of the project.
The ten-time Pic O De Crop winner’s comments were supported by the foundation’s chairman, Alvin Jemmott, who revealed that beyond this present project they were also working on a mentorship programme since they have recognised the need for such.
“It is a big programme where we hope to engage other organisations across Barbados to help to provide mentorship for young people between the ages of 12 and 16. To really and truly give them some direction and spend time with them to help them to understand how people like Red Plastic Bag have made it from where he started to where he is today without any kisses or favour, but through hard work, dedication and some stick-to-itiveness,” said Jemmott.
Skeete was thankful for the gifts and voiced his support for a mentorship programme too. The educator believes that children could benefit from having positive influences in their lives, especially those persons whom they already look up to. And because these people might have overcome challenges, children might be able to learn and be motivated by their stories.
“In fact, persons who are coming from the communities that our children are coming from would be able to speak to them about work, what it is like, and life’s journey. And I think it might be a little more motivational than some of us who they see every single day.
“Plus, for individuals like Dr Stedson Wiltshire showing interest in our children will lift their spirits and motivate them, because then they understand that people they see all the time are really interested in their general growth and development. And while these [bags] will go a long way in supporting the educational needs of the children, in fact, more the emotional needs of the children are being met.” (SDB Media)
