Twenty-one primary schools across the island have received a donation of 24,515 books to further develop their libraries, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Dominica.
The names of the schools were revealed at a Principals Meeting held at the Fort Young Hotel last week.
They are The Bagatelle Primary School, Penville Primary, Belles Primary, Newtown Primary, Salybia Primary, Delices Primary, Christian Union Primary, Temple S.D.A Primary, Savanne Paille Primary, St Mary’s Primary, Grand Fond Primary, Wotten Waven Primary, Atkinson Primary, Roseau Primary, Kelleb John Laurent Primary, Sineku Primary, W.S Stevens Primary, Morne Prosper Primary, Clifton Primary, Concord Primary and Grandbay Primary.
“In 2016, Post TS Erika the Rotary Club of Dominica received a donation of EC$34,000 or US$12,500 from the Anglican Church Relief Fund towards the club library rehabilitation project,” President of the Rotary Club of Dominica Aylmer Irish said. “At that time funds were already received or identified for the Petite Savanne multipurpose room and the Coulibistrie and Campbell School libraries.”
He said a decision was then taken to purchase library material with the funds to assist more schools.
He stated further that the Ministry of Education and the American NGO, Hands Across the Sea conducted a needs assessment to determine which school libraries needed assistance.
“At the end of the exercise 21 schools were identified as needing assistance, based on the size of the school and their current library stock,” he noted. “Hand Across the Sea purchased the books at 50 to 60 percent of the regular price from a range of sources… I am happy to report that a total of 24,515 books were purchased and these books are in the process of being cleared from the port.”
He revealed also that the Rotary Club undertook the refurbishment, furnishing and stocking of a brand new library for the Morne Prosper School, “because none existed there.”
He went on to say that the club also funded some repainting and re-carpeting works at the libraries of Clifton and W.S Stevens Primary School.
Meantime; the Rotary Club launched two new literacy projects for the month of September.
This was announced by Rotarian Roslyn Sorhaindo.
“The first is our secondary schools’ quiz competition,” she revealed. “We would like the participation of all secondary schools this year.”
She said letters will be sent out soon.
The club encourages Principals to identify and prepare their representatives early.
“The second is our literacy enhancement project which is a new initiative,” she noted.
Sorhaindo said the club has teamed up with the Ministry of Education, the Dominica Literacy Society, Hands Across the Sea and the US Peace Corps to adopt three primary schools, “Grandbay, Newtown and Morne Prosper Primary.”
She encourages schools, especially those who received the book donation to form literacy clubs.
She pointed out that some of the activities of the literacy club will be reading workshops, games night, reading in the park among others.
This is a very commendable gesture by the Rotary Club of Dominica and the Anglican Church Relief Fund. Qudos to the Rotary Club of Dominica. Continue to raise the bar in Dominica.
A book is the best give one can give to a child.
