Saint Lucia foundation has given digital tablets to some two hundred vulnerable children

In the pandemic time, when the whole world institutions have been shut down from around the last year. The only mode for the education is available in an online way, in order of that Saint Lucia foundation has given digital tablets to some two hundred vulnerable children across Saint Lucia.

Monday, 30th November 2020

Castries, Saint Lucia :In the pandemic time, when the whole world institutions have been shut down from around the last year. The only mode for the education is available in an online way, in order of that Saint Lucia foundation has given digital tablets to some two hundred vulnerable children across Saint Lucia. These donated devices will play a vital role in education in the current time, especially pupils in the formal education system, children with disabilities and youth in marginalized communities. With the support of the Ministry of Education, one hundred and forty-four (144) of the devices will be delivered to the eight (8) schools to serve grade six students. An added thirty-one tablets will serve children within the Wilton Yard community, which is part of the Safe Spaces programme of RISE (St.Lucia) Inc. and who have all tragically lost their fathers. Finally, twenty-five tablets will be given through the Child Development and Guidance Centre to support families with disabled children of different ages. Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, states that what started as an initiative to support the formal education sector, blossomed to reach beyond what the humanitarian organization envisioned. He added by saying that "When we began our Lessons Alive fundraising campaign, we knew we wanted to help our islands meet their digital learning needs in a tangible way, but we had no idea of just how things would evolve in Saint Lucia." "We are humbled", Clarke says, "to be able to serve various communities of children, many of whom would probably go undetected and under the radar but whose access to learning and the tools to engage in remote learning is just as or even more important." Dr Fiona Mayer, Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, stated thanks on behalf of the students for this initiative which is much needed for the students of Saint Lucia. He added that Information Technology remains,s a significant part of teaching and learning especially during these times when we have to add value to the lives of our children. DR Flona ended by saying that "With the use of the devices, we are gratified that those students most in need will be afforded an opportunity to engage with their learning in a more consistent manner. We thank the Sandals Foundation for seeing it fit to embrace this initiative thus affording our children such an opportunity."