Kiwanis assists early-childhood institutions

Ahead of back-to-school this week, the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston last Tuesday and Thursday visited the Destowe Early Childhood Learning Centre Langston Road and Cherubs Basic School, both in the Corporate Area, to provide well-needed assistance at the institutions.

Both received school stationery including hardcover notebooks, cartridge paper, glue, pens, pencils, crayons and dustless chalk while two toilets, two washbasins and eight gallons of Edge Chem paint were donated to Cherubs to assist with refurbishing the bathroom facilities and painting of classrooms for reopening this month.

Further assistance of $100,000 was donated by Bowla's Car Rental to defray expenses associated with the overall refitting initiative.

During the presentation exercise at Cherubs, club president Sharon Williams expressed pleasure with the academic progress the school has made over the years and in particular since the club began working with it six years ago. The school was described as a small place to do much as she reiterated the club's commitment to the partnership.

A belief in the future of the children and what they can do were cited as main motivators.

Director Pat Carroll Lewis expressed similar sentiments and suggested that a positive introduction to a child's education was the key to a successful future.

A teary-eyed principal of Destowe Early Childhood Learning Centre, Marcia Barnaby, said she was at a loss for words to express her gratitude for the supplies and shared that the school was in danger of closure because some parents were unable to pay the required fees and this impacts negatively on funds available for administrative expenses.

Principal of Cherubs, Marva Spencer, was unrelenting in her praises for the support of the Kiwanians while singling out Pauline Andrade and Claudette Walker for special mention.