National Bank of Dominica Ltd. renews sponsorship of RCP

Beginning September 2010, the National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) will continue its sponsorship of the Roving Caregivers’ Programme (RCP) for another three years.

The sponsorship grant totaling over $300,000 will be distributed over a three-year period and will be used to extend the RCP type concept in selected communities across the island.

“The Bank’s interest in and resulting sponsorship of the programme began in 2007 and we are extremely pleased to be on board for another three years,” said Mr. Bernard Thomas, the Acting Managing Director of the National Bank.

NBD renewed its sponsorship of the RCP as the programme has been making a significant impact on Early Childhood Development (ECD) in the parish of St. David, Dominica.

The RCP is an informal early childhood education programme that seeks to reach children birth to three years of age who do not have access to any formal early childhood education in their communities. The programme is a safety net for these very young children who are denied any form of early stimulation and are often exposed to inappropriate practices.

Sponsoring the RCP presented NBD with the perfect opportunity to make a significant contribution to ECD in Dominica. By extension, the sponsorship allows the Bank to assist in equipping parents with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to provide quality care for their children, since this is a core aspect of the RCP.

“Investing in early childhood development in Dominica is one of the ways we can begin to systematically curb several of the social ills affecting our country and our young people. We, at NBD, believe in helping our Dominican children to build a brighter future,” emphasized Mr. Thomas.

For the Bank, the sponsorship between the two entities goes beyond financing the programme.  NBD hopes to be actively involved in the RCP, participating in activities which involve the beneficiaries of the programme as well as jointly engaging the media from time to time. “We hope to extend the Bank’s relationship with this programme beyond the lines of sponsorship,” underscored Mr. Bernard Thomas Acting Managing Director.

“We are extremely pleased that the Bank is committed to continuing its sponsorship of the programme for another three years. This RCP-NBD relationship will result in great things for ECD and its attendant beneficiaries in the years to come,” explained RCP Coordinator Nisbertha Buffong.

A formal handover ceremony, solidifying the renewal of the partnership between the bank and the RCP will be held at the Castle Bruce Secondary School on Thursday September 30, 2010 starting at 3:30 pm.