Salvation Army Pre-school gets grant to improve learning environment

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Salvation Army Pre-school has recently received a fillip to its learning environment through a US$7 000 grant from the Port-of-Spain, Trinidad-based Australian High Commission.

In a recent visit to the learning institution, SKNVibes spoke with the husband and wife team that heads the Salvation Army, Major Roxroy Campbell and Major Majorie Campbell who are originally from Jamaica.

Major Roxroy informed that the Salvation Army had started a project called ‘Motivating Young Minds Through Interactive Learning and a Safe Environment’, for which he is the Coordinator, and financial support was needed in order for it to be successful.

Consequently, he sought assistance under the Direct Aid Programme (DAP) and was “fortunate” to have applied and have it approved.

The DAP is a flexible, small grants programme for selected recipient countries, funded by the Australian Government through AusAID and managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It is available to individuals, community groups and NGOs engaged in development activities, in designated countries, on a not-for-profit basis. 

Also, the DAP provides support for activities that alleviate poverty and achieve development outcomes, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of women, children and other disadvantaged groups.

At the Pre-school, Major Roxroy said that a commemorative plaque was mounted in recognition of the Commission’s “funding for manipulative teaching aids, furnishing, improved food storage, safety equipment and upgrading our playground”.

Additionally, stickers with the Commission’s logo with the words “Australian High Commission DAP Project” have been placed on all the equipment and furniture purchased for the Pre-school from the grant.

Items purchased for the school include cupboards for storing books, tables for the reading area, sleeping mats, two fire extinguishers, kitchen cupboards and a refrigerator.

Special thanks is being extended to the inmates of Her Majesty’s Prison for assisting in the upgrading of the environment and also to members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force for making the lattice for the school’s fence.

In a project approval letter addressed to Major Campbell, the Australian Deputy High Commissioner said, “We appreciate your commitment to creating a well-rounded educational facility for underprivileged youth and are happy to help achieve this goal.”

In response, Major Campbell wrote, “I would like to express words of appreciation to the Australian High Commission for it contribution for the development of pre-school education for children whose parents sometimes can’t afford.”

Community Development Officer in the Department of Social Services, Community and Gender Affairs, Jaquline Christopher told this media house that it was a “pleasure writing project for the submission of the pre-school, and I’m happy  that they were  the recipient  of the US$7 000 grant offered by the Australian High Commission”.

Christopher also said that, for her, it is a pleasure to assist the other clubs, social centres and associations, whilst making an appeal for such groups with an idea for a project concept to contact her at 467-1222 or 667-3296.

As gathered, the Salvation Army Pre-school, which currently has 24 students, has been in operation for over 40 years.

Features of the learning centre include Toys Area, Library Area, Home Area, Music Area, Block Area, Art Area and Science Area.