All Saints Anglican School Old Students’ Association promotes literacy

Dec 14, 2009 News

NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The All Saints Anglican School old Students’ Association is promoting reading as a leisure activity among the younger generation.

Last week, the organisation distributed more than 1,000 assorted books to 26 schools in New Amsterdam, East and West Canje, the East Bank of Berbice, Ithaca and Rosignol and the Lion’s Club of New Amsterdam.

The schools include the St. Aloysius, New Amsterdam, St. Therese’s and the Overwinning Primary Schools in New Amsterdam, Locaber and Sandvoort Primary Schools in West Canje, Friends Primary on the East Bank, Fort Ordnance, Number Two, Cumberland, Gangaram and New Forest Primary Schools in East Canje, Berbice High School, Berbice Educational Institute, Tutorial Academy and the Canje Secondary.

The Rosignol and Ithaca Primary Schools have not yet received their supply.

The donation was made possible through the Sisters United in Service and the LCB Merchandise which presented the books to the All Saints Anglican School old Students’ Association for distribution to government-owned schools in the New Amsterdam catchment area.

The Sisters United in Service, which is based in the US, is a charitable organisation and comprises professors, head teachers and teachers. The LCB Merchandise is a web-based sales company.

Secretary of the All Saints Anglican School old Students’ Association, retired head teacher of the Berbice High School and owner of Tiara Academy in New Amsterdam, Marva Baird, explained that the All Saints Anglican School ceased to exist decades ago.

It was located at Trinity in New Amsterdam and occupied the plot of land behind the All Saints Anglican Church.

During the early 1960’s, due to the state of the building, the students were decanted to Philadelphia Street which the Department of Education in Region Six now occupies.

A new building was erected in Vryman’s Erven and the students were placed there and it became known as the Vryman’s Erven Government School. In 1975, it was renamed the Vryman’s Erven Community High School and recently Vryman’s Erven Secondary School.

The All Saints Anglican School old Students’ Association was established in December 2007 when some old students visited Guyana.

The local committee meets on the last Friday of every month. It is headed by Allan Samaroo of East Canje and he is also Public Relations Officer.

Lydia Neblett, a former teacher at the All Saints Anglican School, is the Treasurer; James Braud of Smythfield is one of the committee members.

Collin Caesar and Ruby Edwards, both of the United States, are the ones mobilising the old students association in the United States of America.

The committee is working toward acquiring a plot of land on which to construct its own building. The group has a number of projects listed including a soup kitchen and day centre.

The purchase of the land and the construction of the building are to be funded by the overseas members in addition to local fund raising drives.

On December 19, the group will host a Christmas party for senior citizens at the Tiara’s Academy at Trinity Street.