Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
Rotary Club spearheads literacy programme in Berbice
Samuel Whyte
The Rotary Club of New Amsterdam has taken the initiative to improve the literacy level of students in Berbice.
The club, through its Vocational Service Department, has donated more than 24 boxes of books worth over $500,000 to four Canje, East Berbice primary schools as part of its Book Distribution Project in the region. The four schools are Forth Ordinance, Betsy Ground, Cumberland and Rose Hall Estate Primary Schools.
Students, teachers and members of the New Amsterdam Rotary, standing display some of the books
This is the first part of an ongoing drive by the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam to put more books in the schools and to enhance the literacy level of school children in the Berbice area. The latest project by the club will benefit over 2000 students.
The books were handed over at a simple presentation ceremony held at the Hand in Hand Insurance Company building at New Street New Amsterdam.
Club President Rabindranauth Sookraj stated that the books will cover most of the basic topics that are done in schools and will help the students to do more in-depth reading. Some of the subject areas included Mathematics, Science, English, Phonics, Reading, Social studies, History and Geography. “From the distribution each school will receive over 400 books.” Sookraj stated.
The Rotary President along with Immediate Past President, Tajepaul Adjodhea, spoke with the media. The men emphasised their interest in children and the importance of reading. They lament the lack of interest in reading in the youths today. They hope the injection of the books will be the start of a renewed focus in reading among the schools and youths in general.
The books were sourced from the United States of America by Rotarians in that country through the assistance of another non-government organization, the Sherling Guy Care on the Corentyne. Two containers of books have so far been acquired and are ready for distribution to school children in the region.
Nursery schools in the New Amsterdam/Canje district as well as Primary and Secondary Schools in the area will be targeted next as the project continues.
Senior Mistress of Fort Ordinance Primary, Francesca Johnson, IT teacher Bibi Safi of the Rose Hall Estate primary school, Miguel Johnson, Assistant Master of Cumberland primary school and Nalini Carmichael, Senior Mistress of the Betsy Ground Primary school were among the teachers and students that attended the simple ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients Ms Carmichael expressed her thanks on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the various schools and teachers. The books she said will go a long way in helping the students with their reading. She noted that most of the schools have established or are in the process of establishing school libraries.
The books, she said, will come in handy because the children are going to read and educate themselves.
The students also expressed their appreciation for the donation.
The rotary club also paid for transporting the books to Berbice and to the various schools.
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