"HOPE Nevis officially launches "Hope Deserving Child Award Fund"
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~ Charlestown, Nevis: HOPE Nevis last week launched an innovative fund, the “Hope Deserving Child Award Fund” amidst praises by Nevis Island Administration (NIA), officials and parents.
Recently, HOPE Nevis adopted St. John’s Primary school and donated reading materials and two balls. The vibrant youth organisation also hosted a professional seminar that attracted employees from the private sector and government departments.
Mr. Alstead Pemberton, Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Social Development, said it was a long time since the island had a vibrant youth group such as HOPE Nevis. He said that the Ministry was fully behind the program as it looked after both the health and the education of the child.
“The Ministry of Social Development has a program to provide hot meals to the elderly so it is good that HOPE Nevis will be able to provide hot lunches to young people,” Pemberton said.
Also present was Mr. Joseph Wiltshire, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Library Services.
Mrs. Jennifer Hodge Principal Education Officer, heaped praises on HOPE NEVIS and noted that the group was active and doing wonders for the development of Nevis' youth.
“It is commendable that at a time when so many negative things are said of young people that a youth group like HOPE Nevis could emerge and prove to Nevis that there are some good young people in Nevis,” she noted.
She urged the beneficiaries of the fund to value the opportunity provided to them and strive for excellence in their education.
Mrs. Violet Jones, a parent of one of the children chosen, offered her profound thanks and gratitude to HOPE Nevis saying that this was the second time that she was touched by HOPE Nevis. She was a participant at the HOPE Young Professionals Seminar.
“My son has always wanted to become a doctor since primary school. With the help of HOPE Nevis, I am confident that my son will be a doctor,” Mrs Jones said.
She further noted that she had faced various challenges and thanked HOPE Nevis for providing what she described “as the much needed help.”
Mr. Rohan Isles, President of HOPE Nevis, presented vouchers to Mrs. Hodge, who will present them to the selected two students. The vouchers were then presented to respective guidance counsellors.
Mrs. Lornette Swanston, a Guidance Counsellor at Charlestown Secondary School, encouraged other businesses to contribute towards the HOPE Deserving Child Award Fund (HDCAF) so that more children could benefit from the fund.
At the end of the ceremony members of HOPE Nevis along with the parents and the guidance counsellors signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which governs the fund.
