On Wednesday 16th November 2022, 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 Makes Me Smart”.
With funding provided by the Mustique Charitable Foundation (MCF), HATS will distribute 4,546 books to 15 Primary Schools most of which are within the Red & Orange Zones in St. Vincent along with one school in the Grenadines and the National Public Library. The selected schools in the red and orange zones were those directly affected by the La Soufriere Eruptions in April 2021.
At the ceremony, Yvette Pompey (HATS-Literacy Link) and Enna Bullock (HATS-Literacy Link), both gave brief remarks where they expressed their sincere gratitude to the Mustique Charitable Foundation and President Nancy Young, who played a key role in the beginning of this relationship.
Natalia Gill (Project Director-Mustique Charitable Foundation) noted that it was MCF’s sixth (6th) year contributing funding for books and HATS Literacy Links. She also, in her address, told the teachers and principals in attendance, to continue to practice grace and patience when working with students in literacy and in speaking to the students, she encouraged them to make a conscious effort as practicing literacy can easily grow into more than a skill.
