Over 60 benefit from Region Four’s “Back to School” Project

More than 60 students have benefited from the receipt of school supplies, courtesy of the Department of Education, Region Four (Demerara Mahaica) on Thursday.
The event was held at the Quamina Primary School in Beterverwagting, ECD, and catered for children from nursery, primary and secondary schools.
The students, all drawn from the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, were outfitted with a wide range of school supplies in an effort to ensure that they are ready for the academic year opening on Monday, September 3, 2018.
The project, dubbed “RDC’s DoE Back to School Bag Packs”, was sponsored by the Regional Chairman’s Office, Department of Education, and a number of private individuals and companies.
Originator of the project, Regional Education Officer (REDO acting) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, in addressing the students, disclosed it is a project that she had long envisioned.
She noted that she was very excited to execute the project, and the quality of the items donated is second to none.
She disclosed that a wide range of items were being distributed because as a mother herself she can relate to the difficult challenges faced by parents in preparing their children from the new school year.
The official stressed that with increasing economic and other challenges and difficulties, it continues to pose significant challenge for parents and guardians to provide the items needed for the students, thus she felt that her department getting involved in such a project was noteworthy and critically important in ensuring that more students are able to attend school regularly.
Among the items the students received were school bags, books, stationaries, undergarments, school uniforms, shoes and socks. Several parents and students

expressed gratitude and appreciation for the support being given by the Department of Education. They note that it is timely, considering the many harsh economic challenges that parents are confronted with these days. One parent was moved to tears with her three children received what she described as “everything that they needed for school”.
Parent Sharon Nurse was very emotional, noting that as a mother of three young children, she continues to endure grave challenges and difficulties in being able to send her children to school.
She thanked the REDO for what she dibbed “a very good gesture”, stressing that she has urged her three children to do their best so that the support given would not go wasted.
“As a mother of a 15, 11 and 5-year-old, I am very happy today to be receiving the things, because my daughters got from panties, tights, bras to uniform, right down; and I am very happy with it. I can tell you that being able to get these things have certainly saved me the stress and hardships that I am face with,” Nurse said.
She noted that she is confident several other parents may be equally happy and grateful as she is, because many parents are confronted with grave challenges. Therefore, she said, she would like to encourage the Department of Education, Region Four, to continue this initiative.
She added that it is noteworthy, and needs to be highly commended by all concerned. She expressed gratitude also to those companies and individuals who would have supported the initiative.
Another parent, Norma Singh, who has lost her son to drowning some months ago, was very emotional, and thanked the REDO for what she said was a kind- hearted gesture, but, more importantly, a sign that the REDO understands the role of parents and what they can endure.
“I can’t stop thanking REDO Harvey for what is happening here, as yet again this Department of Education have truly understood the challenge and difficulties of parents like myself, and have stepped up to lend a helping hand,” she said.
Among those in attendance, to help in giving out the bag packs, were Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas and Regional Vice Chairman Earle Lambert.
Harvey expressed gratitude that she could have executed such a project, which was coincidentally held on her birthday. She declared, “This is the best birthday for anyone to have, as I can truly give back on a day like today. I can tell you that there is nothing better I could have asked for on my birthday”.