Communities helping Communities – it’s powerful

Today I wish to share with you a project that I along with some family members started in June of this year and recently completed. The Admiral Ferguson High School in Colonel Hill, Crooked Island was the beneficiary of the project.

As I begin, allow me to thank the project team members, stakeholders, donors and contributors for their support with this project. This was a fine example of Communities helping Communities.

Background to Project

Do you remember Hurricane Joaquin?

According to a 2016 National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report authored by Robbie Berg, “Joaquin was a category 4 hurricane … whose strong winds and storm surge devastated Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador …” It was also reported that “… Joaquin was the strongest October hurricane known to have affect [T]he Bahamas since 1866.

The said Tropical Cyclone Report reported that 70% of Crooked Island was flooded with at lease 5 feet of water and it was estimated that hurricane Joaquin caused more than B$ 60 million in damages on the affected islands.

During a conversation about teaching chess in Crooked Island, I was told about the high school not having books and was directed to speak with Michaela Thompson. I called Michaela and she confirmed that all of the reading books of the school were destroyed by Hurricane Joaquin and had not been replaced as yet. As a result of that conversation, the idea of the New Reading Books Project was born.

Genesis of the Project

So after consulting with some of my family members, we agreed to start a new reading book project to replace some of the destroyed books. The project started in the summer, June 2021. After consulting with the High School, its Parent Teacher’s Association, Librarians, Researchers and non-profit organisations directly connected with Crooked Island, we began our project called New Reading Books Project (Summer 2021). We fundraised for two months and then started to purchase books. Below are pictures of some of the new books we bought as the project progressed.

Mini Project

During the New Reading Books Project, we found out about a student at the High School who was blind and did not have a cane that could be used to improve her mobility and independence. So we added a cane to the list of deliverables.

Completion of the Project

I am happy to report that the project is complete. The new reading books and cane were shipped by mailboat to Landrail Point, Crooked Island. The package arrived on Saturday 6 November and later transported to Admiral Ferguson High School, Colonel Hill and received by Ms. Lise-Mae Dolce, Principal of the High School.

A complete list of the reading books and genre donated to the High School is listed below.

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I am hopeful that present and future students of the Admiral Ferguson High School will use these books to continue improving their literacy skills that will help build their self esteem and overall quality of life.