The Advancement of Children Foundation (ACF) is happy to announce that they have just approved and funded three worthwhile community projects in St. Kitts-Nevis at a presentation ceremony held on December 10th 2015 at St. Kitts Marriott Resort.The three receiving projects, St. Kitts Society for the Blind, UWI/Teen Vacation Program and CaribbeanReads were each presented with a check by ACF’s Chair, Ms. Naeemah Hazelle.
Mr. Rockcliffe Bowen received a check in the sum of $18,468.00 for the St.Kitts Society for the Blind (STKSOB) to enable the purchase of Braille machines. Partnering with ACF on this particular project were the Rotary Club of St. Kitts and the Rotary Club of Liamuiga who each donated $2,800.00 to cover the cost of instruction by the Braille Facilitator, Ms. Browlia Audian. The overall funding is essential to assist the Society in improving the lives of the blind and visually impaired persons through education, training and employment and thereby making their lives more meaningful. STKSOB can be contacted at stksob@hotmail.com or 869-465-9939.
The second presentation was made to Ms. Heidi Fagerberg on behalf of CaribbeanReads. This group was funded to the amount of $7,931.41 to cover the cost of books essential to its pilot literacy project, Plant A Seed to Read, to encourage reading and literacy development. The funds will be used to bring local books and curriculum support for the books to primary students at the Beach Allen Primary School. The aim is to eventually do this every year for every primary school in the Federation. CaribbeanReads can be reached at funeducationskn@yahoo.com.
The third presentation was to Mrs. Cecily Jacobs on behalf of UWI’s Teen Vacation Program 2015. A program held each year to give the Federation’s youth positive avenues to express themselves while building self-esteem in a safe environment. The TVP program was developed in 2011 by Psychologist and Counsellor Zahra Jacobs. This year the program was attended by 25 young people, ranging in age from 12-16 years, who participated in activities that focused on whole child development through arts, academic enrichment and physical exercise while being introduced to public speaking, yoga, self-defense, formal dance and money management, thereby instilling the concept of networking and mentoring. A summary report of the 2016 TVP programme can be obtained from UWI’s Open Campus. The programme was facilitated by Sharon Gittens Quick and assisted by Mr. Tevin Phillip and TVP Graduate, Miss Juanita Richardson.
The handing-over presentations was attended by ACF’s Board of Councilors, President Tuffida Stewart (Rotary Club of Liamuiga) and President Bobby Morris (Rotary Club of St. Kitts).
The ACF is committed to creating environments that are conducive to learning, growth and contribution, replete with community and family support, and free of violent and negative coercive forces. Its vision is to reverse the trend of rising violence and antisocial behavior among the youths and build a culture of healthy and meaningful contribution to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
The ACF receives applications throughout the year and is happy to discuss any proposed applications. Information on the ACF is readily available on their website – www.acfstkittsnvis.org, or Facebook (ACF SKN). ACF can also be contacted on 869-662-5357 or via email acfinfo@acfstkittsnevis.org
