MUCH TO the delight of principal Gloria Bryan, the St Lawrence Primary School now has a new library, compliments of the Sandals Foundation.
Bryan said she had received nothing but broken promises before the charity arm of the Jamaican resort chain stepped in and made her dream a reality yesterday.
“It was from over three years ago I have been trying to get our library refurbished,” she said.
“I had no problem getting books; my biggest challenge was to actually get the library moving. Then one day I was told Sandals wanted to work with the school and I suggested the library. Three days later they came and the rest is history.”
Bryan said the help was unexpected and she understood it was a part of the resort’s efforts to give back to Barbados. She said it was lucky the St Lawrence, Christ Church school was randomly chosen in light of their need.
“We now have a spacious, air-conditioned library equipped with computers. Words cannot express my gratitude to Sandals Barbados for providing our students with another avenue to enhance their reading ability,” she said.
Sandals Barbados general manager Josef Zellner said they were always on the lookout for ways to contribute and give back and there was no better way to do so than to contribute to the future.
“We were looking at various areas to assist and education is probably one of the most important things in life we can give to our children. It gives people an opportunity in life and we as a company believe in that,” he said.
Zellner told the children he hoped they would find the library useful and would find time to read as well as conduct research on the Internet.
Also speaking was district education officer Sharmin Ally.
“What Sandals did was plant a seed of knowledge,” she told the students.
“It is your task to take care of those books and use them because the fruit from that seed will serve the country well in years to come.”
The library consists of five computers with Internet capabilities and around 500 books. The official opening ceremony included songs, a puppet show and an acrostic.
(CA)
