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Tradewatch
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The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 8 No. 3 July 2014
CORPORATE citiZenship
Caribbean Export Drives Literacy in Local Schools
Caribbean Export launched its inaugural children’s book drive in
April 2014. To date, the drive has amassed 315 books from employee
donations, and two schools have benefitted from these donations.
Presentations were made during May to the students of the West
Terrace Primary School and St. Stephen’s Primary School, which are
both located in the vicinity of Caribbean Export’s headquarters in St.
Michael, Barbados.
Ms. JoEllen Laryea, Public Relations and Communications Advisor
and Mrs. Stephanie Bishop, Monitoring and Evaluations Advisor
coordinated the initiative and represented the Agency at the
presentations. Ms. Laryea, in addressing the students, expressed her
concern about the effect that this decrease in literary interest will
have on the ability of the future leaders to express themselves and
to communicate effectively. She further stressed the importance of
reading for the cultivation of creative and critical thought, which are
the paramount to success in any endeavour.
According to Ms, Laryea, ““through reading, you open up your
minds; you encounter new words, which expand your vocabulary. A
strong vocabulary is very important to be able to express yourselves
well…some of you may want to start your own businesses some day
and effective and eloquent communication will be very important for
success in entrepreneurship, as well as in any career that you go into.”
A well-read child becomes an articulate and confident thinker and
communicator. The Agency has chosen to the book drive as a vehicle
for the ignition of primary-level students’ interest in literature. It is
hoped that, through the re-introduction of literature that has been
tried and tested by other children, that the students will be encouraged
to explore the offerings and become engaged with the material. The
primary educational level has been deemed to be the optimal time to
spark children’s interest in reading as it is at this developmental stage
that patterns of thinking, reasoning and speech develop. Creating an
environment in which students are constantly engaged with resources,
which stimulate their intellect and imagination, is key to laying the
foundation for future excellence in all spheres.
The Agency continues to accept donations to its book drive as it
prepares to donate to other schools. The next presentation of books
is scheduled to take place in September at schools in the St. Michael,
St. James and St. Thomas areas.
(TW)
A section of the students from the West Terrace Primary School listen
during the presentation at morning assembly
St. Stephen’s Primary Head Girl, receives a sample of the books donated
from Caribbean Export’s PR and Communications Advisor JoEllen Laryea