As part of its continued effort to ensure the country’s youth is supported in their educational development, the Sandals Foundation recently handed over forty school bags filled with much needed learning supplies to help children prepare for the new school year.
This latest handover forms part of the Foundations’ collaborative effort with its United States based partner, “Pack for a Purpose” that galvanizes the support of resort guests to help meet tangible needs in Caribbean countries.
The children who are students at several schools across Antigua and Barbuda received a wide variety of school supplies including pens, pencils, exercise books, rulers among other items that will benefit their learning and development in and outside of a classroom setting for the next academic school year.
Sandals Foundation Ambassador and Public Relations Manager at Sandals Grande Antigua,Leon Norville said “being able to assist so many children at this time is a priority of the Foundation and we are just getting started.
We here at the Foundation remain committed, to continually support activities aimed at the development and support of our young people. It is our hope that through initiatives such as “Pack for a Purpose” that we may continue to create impact and inspire hope to children and parents who may be worried about getting school supplies for school on a year to year basis”.
General Manager Matthew Cornall who was also present at the handover said “navigating these uncharted territories is one of the largest challenges that we have.
It is however, an honor and a privilege to be able to in a very small way, contribute towards the challenge that we face as it relates to the education of the little ones.
It is my hope that as a country we are able to maintain continuity as it relates to the education of our students, because of course we are unable to put them into classrooms at this time.
Mary Baltimore, Chairperson of the Social Protection Board who played a vital role in connecting the Foundation with the children said, “On behalf of Social Transformation Minister Dean Jonas and the Social Protection board we would like to say thanks to the Sandals Foundation. Because of the times that we are living in with COVID still around us and parents unemployed, we are thankful for the gifts and are hoping that other corporate citizens will come onboard.”
Sandals Foundation joined forces with Pack for a Purpose® a non-profit organization in 2012.
The organization provides supply lists to travelers by destination based on local-community projects and needs, paving the way for charitable involvement of vacationers around the globe via their website at www.packforapupose.org.
The organization encourages travelers to pack up to five pounds of needed materials in their suitcases, such as school supplies, medical supplies, sports equipment, etc., to meet the needs of people in the regions they visit.
