476 kids receive school supplies

Underprivileged children throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines were happy to welcome Yvette Glynn-Hamlet back to the country this June.{{more}}

Glynn-Hamlet, originally of Port Elizabeth, Bequia, now residing in Ontario, Canada, is the founder of and driving force behind the Canada-based Knapsack Project, which distributes knapsacks filled with school supplies and other items to less fortunate school children in this country.

The knapsacks and supplies are provided through the generous support of Glynn-Hamlet’s friends, relatives and co-workers in Canada.

This is the fifth year that knapsacks have been supplied to the nation’s children. From an original distribution of 169 knapsacks in 2007, Glynn-Hamlet provided a whopping 476 packs this year, to students at Westwood Methodist School; Buccament Government School; Lowman’s Leeward Anglican School; Richland Park Government; Intermediate High School; Kingstown School for Children with Special Needs; St. Joseph’s Convent, Marriaqua; Marriaqua Government School; Brighton Methodist School; Georgetown School for Children with Special Needs; Stubbs Government; Paget Farm Government School; Bequia Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs; Bequia Anglican Primary School and Bequia Community High School.

Over the years, some 1640 children have benefitted from the project.

Glynn-Hamlet attributes the success of the Knapsack Project to the help of God, observing that He has been so good to her, she has been motivated to give something back. She hopes to continue her work with God’s blessings.

Travelling from Canada to assist with the distribution of the knapsacks were Astra Hamlet and Tanya Glynn – Glynn-Hamlet’s daughter and niece respectively – strong supporters of the Knapsack Project. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines the team worked closely with the Ministry of Education to identify the students who would benefit from the project. In this regard, Glynn-Hamlet was particularly grateful to Girlyn Miguel, Minister of Education, who has provided her full support to the project and assisted with the distribution of knapsacks over the years.

She also extended special thanks to Myrna Bramble, Ronette Lewis, Bentley Glynn and Noel and Vanda Glynn, who helped to coordinate the project in St Vincent and the Grenadines.