It's a giving thing
At Red Bay Primary School, pupils in the school's Good News Bible Club are taught about God, love compassion and truth and an awareness "of the needs of the less fortunate in Cayman society and the world."
It is a lesson they are practising. This school year the 45-strong club has been putting aside money from members' allowances and fundraisers to help the Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund (NRF) as it works to repair and rebuild homes ravaged by Hurricane Ivan. Last Friday, club members and their teachers, Ms. Narda Gray and Ms. Winsome Dawes presented the funds to NRF's Executive Director, Dr. Mark Laskin.
"The children have been quite enthusiastic about supporting this project," noted Ms. Gray. "They remember the hurricane and they wanted to do their part to support the recovery effort. Parents were encouraged to allow their children to do chores at home on the weekends and pay them an allowance. The children then contributed part of this allowance to this project."
Since the Bible Club's inception in 1997, members have donated Christmas baskets and toys and contribute to fellow pupils who need help with lunch.
Red Bay Primary school joins a host of groups and individuals that have voluntarily initiated innovative ways to raise money and contribute to the National Recovery Fund. Since inception in September 2004, the Fund has raised nearly US$9 million and with the efforts of other groups, has assisted over 1,000 households with large scale and minor home repairs, replacement of damaged or lost furniture and rebuilding.
The Fund is now focused on rebuilding homes too severely damaged to be repaired. Some 150 such homes are slated for reconstruction.
The National Recovery Fund is a private, independent Trust that relies solely on donations to carry out its work. Donations are tax-deductible for US, UK and Canadian citizens.