Five get secondary school bursaries as Nature Care SVG, others, honour Verna Douglas

Parents and Guardians have expressed gratitude to Nature Care SVG and contributors for helping them to give their children an education that they never had.

Yesterday, August 19, 2024 Nature Care SVG hosted a ceremony at its facility in Layou where five students who will be entering the Barrouallie Secondary School in September, were presented with bursaries.

The bursaries started after the death of former Principal of the Barrouallie Secondary School, Verna Douglas, a woman who Director of Nature Care, Gideon Nash said, “has given up her best and her life to students going to the Barrouallie Secondary School.”

Douglas passed away at age 87 on December 3, 2021, in the United States of America, but had spent her life helping a number of students during her years as an educator.

“I am of course one of those students who she helped to the point that I used to live around her, and I called her granny even up to her death,” Nash told the recipients and parents at the ceremony.

Inspired by her legacy, Nash, who owns a landscaping and plant nursery business, along with Ulric McDowall, Michelle Douglas and Idris Williams have decided to continue the generous and selfless spirit of Douglas by gifting $500 to each to four students from Layou, and one student from Barrouallie, who will soon be attending the Barrouallie Secondary School.

The recipients are Jomar George; Shemeka Davy; Viron Robertson; Kathalia Gaymes; and Kimyra Charles.

McDowall, who was one of the persons that received great assistance from Verna Douglas advised the recipients to stay away from drugs and strong rum in order to be successful.

“Do your best and God will do the rest,” he said.

Idris Williams, who was also impacted by Douglas’ generosity told the recipients that education is the key to success.

He said that success does not only mean passing 15 subjects when they do their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Exams, but that they can also be successful doing a trade.

And Michelle, who is Verna Douglas’ youngest daughter, advised the recipients to be respectful, especially to their parents.

“No matter how much education you have, if you’re not respectful, you wouldn’t go anywhere,” she cautioned them.

When the children received their money, some of the parents shared that they did not go to secondary school and are thankful to Nature Care SVG and the contributors for investing in their children’s education.

One of the guardians, Debra Woods, addressed the audience said she did not attend a secondary school and is grateful for the assistance given.

She explained that some of her children also did not have the opportunity to attend a secondary school.

“I greatly appreciate it,” she said.

A parent, Alpha Gaymes said that he also never had the opportunity that his children now have, and wishes the best to all the recipients in their journey to Secondary School.