Petite Savanne Primary School wins literacy prize

hands over the seaRecognizing the passion and dedication of the Petite Savanne Primary School’s staff and students to literacy and the creation of a vibrant school library, Hands Across the Sea (http://www.handsacrossthesea.net) has awarded the school the 2014-2015 Hands Literacy Award for Dominica. The prize is U.S. $1,000 in brand new books of the school’s choice.

Hands Across the Sea first assisted Petite Savanne Primary School with a shipment of 800 books for the 2011-2012 school year, and followed that with 500 books for the 2012-2013 school year. As winners of the 2014-2015 Hands Literacy Award for Dominica, the school will receive a shipment of new books worth U.S. S1,000.

Hands Across the Sea’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Harriet Linskey said, “There is no doubt that improved literacy skills open the door to a better life, and Principal Oliver Samuel and his staff are demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting reading and writing by making their library an important part of the school.”

Hands Across the Sea, founded in 2007, has served 10,020 children at 77 Dominica primary and secondary schools and reading programs since 2008, sending a total of 42,480 new and near-new books. As part of each year’s Hands Wish Lists, educators specify the types of books most needed for their school.

“We believe that literacy is a right for every child,” says Hands Across the Sea’s Program/Operations Director, Amanda Dombach. “We feel honored to be able to partner with amazing schools like Petite Savanne Primary School, who share this belief and are committed to ensuring that their students are able to develop strong reading and writing skills. By receiving feedback from teachers and principals on the specific needs of the school and its students we are able to not only support the school’s curriculum and teacher’s lesson plans, but also provide students with engaging and culturally relevant books that will help them to develop a love of reading.”

The Hands Across the Sea team is ably represented by Celia Sorhaindo, the resident Hands Literacy Link for Dominica, who assists schools with everything from hands-on rejuvenation of their library space to helping teachers and librarians help raise child literacy levels through their school library.

Hands Across the Sea is dedicated to raising the literacy levels of Eastern Caribbean children on the islands of Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.

Since founding the organization in 2007, Hands Across the Sea has shipped over 173,000 books to the region through its Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) program. The CLASS program, in concert with each school’s Hands Wish Lists (school principals, teachers, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers tell Hands which books they need).

CLASS works in three ways: 1. Send Great New Books; 2. Create Borrowing Libraries (usually a school library); and 3. Foster Sustainability of the library through support at the school, the local community, and the hands-on efforts of the on-island Hands Literacy Link.

On Dominica, Hands Across the Sea partners with the U.S. Peace Corps, Scotiabank Bright Future, the MoneyGram Foundation, and Rosalie Bay Resort, while working closely with the Ministry of Education.

The prize giving ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 6.

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2 Comments

  1. clinton
    May 5, 2015

    Congrats to the staff of the petite savanne primary school…..teacher oliver always believe in reading as the primary contributor to gaining knowledge and self development…on the same note remembering two retired principles from the petite savanne primary school who increased the percentage of literacy within the community by the creation and maintenance of the library….well done teacher Derrick and teacher Murthy!!!!

  2. ALister
    May 5, 2015

    Congratulations Guys!!!

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