US Embassy supports education in Dominica

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel at US embassy with students of Trafalgar Primary School
Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel at US embassy with students of Trafalgar Primary School

The U.S. Embassy has helped boost education in Dominica with several recent donations of books and education materials to schools and organizations across the country.

On Tuesday, May 7, the Embassy presented a set of books and teaching materials to Portsmouth Secondary School.

Principal Ronald Austrie expressed his gratitude for the donation, saying that “the active support from organizations such as yours helps us to strive for excellence in education as we look forward to a brighter future.”

The books, which include both works of fiction and resources on teaching methods, will benefit both teachers and students at the school.

The Embassy also presented a set of books and educational board games to Operation Youth Quake.

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel at the embassy was on hand to present the books and introduce the children to their new learning resources.

Working in groups, the children enjoyed learning how to play the games and browsing through their new books.

On Wednesday, May 8, Zaspel visited Trafalgar Primary School, where she presented a set of children’s books on behalf of the Embassy.

This “Books-in-a-Bag” program includes a selection of the books from the 2012 American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books list which are packed into a wheeled duffel bag so the books can be easily circulated from class to class.   The program started in 2011 and has made its way to primary schools across the Eastern Caribbean, adding to the thousands of Embassy-donated books to schools across the region.

Finally, the American Corner in the Dominica Public Library in Roseau received a set of four new Kindles, pre-loaded with hundreds of titles and ready for eager readers to use.

Zaspel worked with a core group of frequent library visitors and avid readers to familiarize them with these fun new devices.

The Kindles, along with hundreds of other Embassy-funded books and reading materials are available every day at the American Corner.

Principal of the Portsmouth Secondary School (right) poses with Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel and a student
Principal of the Portsmouth Secondary School (right) poses with Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel and a student

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22 Comments

  1. hm!
    May 16, 2013

    Thanks USA. We appreciate your gesture.

  2. Tyre hit de road
    May 16, 2013

    That’s a great Gesture.Thank you USA!

  3. Kubulol
    May 16, 2013

    I fully agree with “Tru offends” and “Morihei Ueshiba” comments.

    DA ruling party supports dictators like Chavez, Castro, the iranian leader … and other communist dictators who hate the US and Europe so much.

    But it comes to donations, black is white !

  4. mama
    May 15, 2013

    :)

  5. Tomas
    May 15, 2013

    China build bridges,school, roads etc…Cuba gives hundreds of scholarships, nurses, doctors etc. Venezuela give airport, houses etc…America give library a few books…hahaha

    • Stoney
      May 15, 2013

      don’t you think of what you saying….

      Ross/Devry is a US based investment which impacts The Dominican economy in a Major way.

      Just consider if that investment would pull out,call me back at let me know the effects…

      But again many Dominicans don’t think in a expansive matter they fall for the pennies….

    • Deleoncourt
      May 16, 2013

      I think the theme that you are trying express however unwillingly is that Dominicans don’t do anything for themselves. Why does it always have to be a foreign country to come in to do something. And why are u so ungreatful for the books. Any gift is welcome,what had Dominica ever done for America? Does. America owe Dominica anything? You are such of a disgusting person.

  6. Anonymous
    May 15, 2013

    we need more e-books

  7. Anonymous
    May 15, 2013

    Did you actually read the article. It clearly says that Principal Ronald Austrie expressed his gratitude for the donation ……………… I think that you should catch the reading bug!!!!

  8. Young
    May 15, 2013

    Does the “principal of the Porstmouth Secondary School” have a name???? I see we know the name of the officer but NOT the locals. Hmmmmm????

    • Peeping Tom
      May 15, 2013

      READ the article!

  9. truth offends
    May 15, 2013

    All we need now is a government that is willing to work with the US, and one that will not continue to make anti US statements and one that will not choose to work and embrace policies of the likes of Gadafi, Chavez, China, Russia, Hussein and all those evil rulers around the globe.

  10. Morihei Ueshiba
    May 15, 2013

    We need to reconsider our alliance with Venezuela now chavez dead, and go back to our old friends like Eugenia days.

    • Rebel
      May 15, 2013

      what nonsense you speak

  11. maximoto
    May 15, 2013

    Could a dollar figure be placed on the donation please?

  12. wayne.c
    May 15, 2013

    Education is a great thing. This leads to knowledge…end, but all the books and no jobs means nothing. If the U.S uses the same money they use to fight drugs in the Caribbean and put it for job creation. Trust me we will see a reduction in crime.

    • truth offends
      May 15, 2013

      @Wayne.c, Do you really want to blame the US for lack of jobs in Dominica? Are you serious or you just in a talking mood? Is the name of our PM “Obama?” Blame your government for lack of jobs and not the us. Although we all know we have no jobs in Dominica and live is extremely hard here, come next election I bet you guys will go all over dressed in RED to re-elect all you Skerrit, who is not a friend of the US. FYI, the fact that Ross University is from the US and Ross pays the loans of a good 35% of us, is proof that the US is helping to create jobs for us. Although Ross is not owned by the US government, all Obama has to do is change tax programs for Americans investing abroad and Ross will be history in Dominica.

      • wayne.c
        May 15, 2013

        DO you know what the WTO is and the U.S role in it? If not shut your backdoor!

  13. Times Sq
    May 15, 2013

    Despite what folks say, Big Bro is always a true Friend to Dominica.

    Mucho love and respect to Big Bro!

    • Dorival John
      May 15, 2013

      Yep….couple books….that help….

      • Peeping Tom
        May 15, 2013

        :mrgreen:

  14. Roseau
    May 15, 2013

    Thank You USA and continue to have Dominica on your donation list .

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