After learning about the plight of the people in St. Vincent, Maryland Primary School were keen to join the humanitarian effort to help the islanders still struggling after the eruption of volcano, La Soufriere. There have been no further eruptions since April, however seismic unrest continues and many people remain left without homes, in need of assistance with food, clothing and medical treatment.

Head Teacher Lorna Jackson explained: “We always try to support children abroad whose country is suffering a disaster, for example the Bangladesh floods, the Haiti hurricane, the Thailand tsunami etc. We held several assemblies where we educated the children about St. Vincent itself, not just as a place suffering disaster. We also had assemblies on what volcanoes are, and the devastation they cause. The children are taught to be kind and their parents really engaged.”

With everyone keen to support, Maryland School engaged in a collaborative effort with Charles Challenger of Challenger Shipping, who is part of an initiative by Caribbean businesses who have joined together to provide aid for St. Vincent.

Using the list provided by the charities, parents and children packed boxes together full of all new items, socks, caps, masks, toothbrushes & toothpaste, toys, backpacks, lunchboxes, books, stationery etc.

Mr Challenger expressed his amazement at the extent of support for the St. Vincent aid initiative. “It was amazing to see the amount of donations received which extended beyond the Caribbean Community. It demonstrates the extent to which second-generation Caribbean people like Head Teacher Ms Jackson have been key in improving cross community relations, to the extent that people can see each other as one. The ‘community of mankind’, and they just want to help.

The donations are due to be shipped out to St. Vincent in coming weeks and arrangements are in place to ensure these get distributed directly to the schools. Maryland are looking forward to hearing how their efforts have helped the people of St. Vincent.

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