The Interact Club of St. Maarten, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Dominica, has donated to Charlotte’s Pre-school, in Newtown, in the form of supplies and refurbishment of the school’s main area, which was damaged by the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.
Last year, during Tropical Storm Erika, the ravine near the school overflowed its banks, damaging the school’s floors and walls, and destroying supplies.
At a handing-over ceremony, on Monday, President of the Rotary Club of Dominica, Annie Edwards, stated that the refurbishment of the school was chosen to be the annual joint project of several branches of the Rotary Club and well-wishers.
The walls of the school’s front room were painted, the floor was carpeted, and seven doors were purchased.
This, Edwards said, was done in an effort to create a fun environment for the children.
“We wanted to create a more vibrant environment for the kids, an environment in which the kids will be very happy to come to school every day,” she explained.
Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) Coordinator of the St. Maarten Interact Club, Saakshi Anil Danjani, stated that the venture was “not easy.”
She revealed that students of the Interact Club chose to forfeit the funds collected for their international leisure trip, and instead merged those funds with money they had collected to provide support to Dominica after the island was ravaged by Tropical Storm Erika.
Nevertheless, Danjani called the experience “rewarding,” and promised that the contribution would continue.
“Coming here has been the most rewarding experience of our lives…” she remarked. “It’s very small, it’s very trivial, hardly anything that we could do. But, I could only assure from my side that this is not going to be only one time. We will make sure that our contribution goes a long way.”
Six of the fourteen members of the St. Maarten Interact Club were present at the ceremony.
Meantime, Administrator of Charlotte’s Pre-school, Glenda Bertrand, thanked the clubs for their donation.
Bertrand, who has been an educator for over 40 years, attributed the results to prayer and patience.
“I’m a very patient person… I was praying. I said ‘I just know that something will happen. It usually takes time. We just have to be patient’,” she commented. “So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much,” she said.
The school staff and pupils are in observance of OECS Day, today (Monday).
Here in Canada we enjoy reading of the good deeds and positive things being done in Dominica.
It is especially heartening to learn of projects like this including children.
I read of the donation made by the INTERACT CLUB and the ROTARY CLUB to help with the repairs and restoration of CHARLOTTE’S PRE SCHOOL. What really touched my heart was learning how the students had sacrificed to donate to this very worthy cause. You are imparting such worthwhile values to your children! “When they are old they (the values) will not depart from them.”
You are sowing into the future of the nature island!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
The ROTARY CLUB is also active here in Canada. They are known for their good works and charity.
Great effort this will go a long way.one of the best pre schools on island