NEGRIL, Westmoreland
THE Sandals Foundation is intensifying its drive to get students under its Care for Kids programme more involved in community outreach projects.
"We feel they (students in the programme) should demonstrate leadership quality and should have compassion for their communities and make a difference. It is about giving their time and realising that giving of their time, whether it be to an old person, or whatever it maybe, they can make a difference in somebody else's life," said Heidi Clarke, the foundation's director. "That is one of the big things we want them (students) to do in this programme because our communities here in Jamaica, and throughout the Caribbean, need it," added Clarke.
Under the Care for Kids programme a recipient has the responsibility of completing 10 community service hours per term and maintaining a 70 per cent average in their academics.
Clarke, who was speaking with the Observer West at the Care for Kids scholarship awards ceremony held at the Beaches Negril Resort and Spa recently, disclosed that 32 children from the Caribbean nations of St Lucia, Antigua, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas have now being incorporated into the programme, adding that Jamaica has 23 participating students.
This year, she noted, some $3 million is being spent to fund the initiative, pointing out roughly 50 per cent of that amount goes to Jamaican students.
She explained, however, that the amount covers tuition, uniforms and books. Additional costs, she said, are incurred for extra lessons throughout the school year.
"The programme is not only a financial donation to children to get the various things they need to go to school. It also offers mentorship for kids who need it. We also have some children who only have one parent, they need extra help and also extra classes. So as I say we are looking at grades but there are kids struggling with certain subjects and don't have the assistance so we offer extra classes for those kids," Clarke explained.
In 1988 Sandals Resorts International (SRI) started the Care for Kids programme to provide financial assistance to students through annual scholarships.
Twenty-one years later, the programme was adopted by the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SRI.
One of last weeks recipients Chantel Pryce, who gave the vote of thanks, was especially full of praise for director of the Sandals Foundation and the team of public relations managers employed to the Sandals chain, who she said, were motivating forces.
"Thank the (Sandals) Foundation for its help... it not just provide financial assistance but also helping us in so many ways and encouraging us to be the best we can be," Pryce remarked.
