FirstCaribbean adopts Special Needs School

Students of the School for Children with Special Needs in Kingstown are the 2009 beneficiaries of FirstCaribbean’s ‘Adopt a Cause’ Programme. And thanks to the Bank and its staff, the school now boasts a brand new library.{{more}}

The project, which was implemented in the month of October 2009, is part of the bank’s Community Relations Program dubbed ‘Adopt a Cause’, initiated in 2006. Under this programme, the Bank donates US$2,000 to a worthy community project. The initiative also creates an environment of volunteerism and teamwork amongst bank staff by encouraging employees to give of their time to these projects.

This year, management and staff volunteered Saturdays and some time during the week to convert a classroom into a library. Tellers turned carpenters, managers morphed into painters, building shelves and adding color to the walls. Linoleum was installed, and chairs and two standing fans were also purchased.

The project was the 4th of its kind for the Bank.

Last year, the staff provided school bags and accessories to students of 18 schools across the island. In 2007 and 2006, FirstCaribbean assisted the Park Hill Government School by establishing a library at the school. Staff were also involved in the building of shelves, painting, cataloging books and organizing librarian skills training for one teacher of the school, which was facilitated by the Kingstown Public Library.

Plans are already in place for the 2010 adopt a cause program.