Hands Across The Sea – 2021/22

On Thursday 18th November 2021, the Handing Over Ceremony of books from Hands Across The Sea (HATS) was held at the Conference Room of the National Public Library with this year’s theme being “Reading Unlocks the Door to Success”.

With funding provided by The Mustique Charitable Foundation (MCF), HATS will distribute 9,103 books to 13 Primary Schools within the Red & Orange Zones in St. Vincent. The selected schools are located in the areas that were directly affected by the La Soufriere Eruptions in April 2021 and includes Georgetown to Fancy on the Windward side and Spring Village to Fitz Hughes on the Leeward side.

With the assistance of the US Peace Corps & Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, individual book packages will be distributed to students from Grade K to Grade 6.

At the ceremony, brief remarks were made by Enna Bullock (HATS-Literacy Link), Yvette Pompey (HATS-Literacy Link) and Gaylene Wickham (Literacy Officer-Curriculum Development Unit), whom all conveyed heartfelt thanks to The Mustique Charitable Foundation and especially President Nancy Young who was integral in the initiation of this collaboration. Now in its fifth (5th) year, The MCF continues its funding for books and HATS Literacy Links to ensure the sustainability of this Literacy Programme.

Dularie Malcolm (Project Director-Mustique Charitable Foundation) commended HATS for its continued passion for the Vincentian children and their literacy capabilities. She also commended the Literacy Links (Enna Bullock & Yvette Pompey) for their versatility and commitment to the programme and especially the “Read Aloud” videos they created.

During his performance, a student from Sandy Bay Government School quoted “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader” and it is with hopes that this continued collaboration between The MCF and HATS will bring forth the leader in all our children.