IGT Jamaica brings joy to Little Angels Learning Centre

Little Angels Learning Centre, located at the Mustard Seed Communities' Sophie's Place in St Andrew, was filled with joy and gratitude at the official handover of an upgraded After-School Advantage (ASA) Centre funded by IGT in Jamaica, recently.

The programme seeks to bridge the digital divide for children ages five to 18 years who may be at a disadvantage because they are unable to access computers. It provides non-profit organisations with digital resource centres, each specially designed to fit the recipients' needs.

In June 2016, IGT donated three computers, a printer, and three chairs to Sophie's Place. One computer is used in the therapy room for children living at Sophie's Place, and two computers and a printer were used at the pre-school located on the premises, the Little Angels Learning Centre, which is also operated by the Mustard Seed Communities.

SPONSORSHIP EXPANSION

IGT decided to expand its sponsorship to meet the demand of the 70 students who are currently enrolled at the Little Angels Learning Centre by installing a newly designed computer lab and five additional computers and chairs.

Little Angels Learning Centre was officially recognised by the Ministry of Education in 2002 and offers a range of educational programmes, including Spanish and physical education. Two nutritious meals are provided daily to the students.

Sophie's Place is home to approximately 20 residents with disabilities, including some from local communities in Gordon Town, St Andrew

This ASA Centre is the fourth to be donated to the Mustard Seed Communities, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. This partnership began in September 2015, with a donation to the Jerusalem Home in Spanish Town. The Mary's Child and St Anthony's Home, as well as the Gift of Hope Children's Home in Mandeville, have already benefited from IGT's educational support through the ASA Centres.

HOLISTIC EDUCATION

"This is a wonderful 40th anniversary gift for us and for the children we love to serve," said Darcy Tulloch-Williams, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities.

"At Little Angels, we try to provide the best for our children. We offer them a holistic education, allowing them to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. This ASA Centre will provide a new and exciting dimension to learning for the students. We at Mustard Seed deeply appreciate IGT's support over the past three years," Tulloch-Williams added.

"This is our 13th After-School Advantage Centre in Jamaica, representing our ongoing commitment to Jamaica's most vulnerable children," said IGT General Manager Debbie Green.

"This includes children with special needs, who can really benefit from access to technology and the opportunities it provides to expand their learning experience. We are very happy to continue our partnership with Mustard Seed Communities, who are doing incredible work," Green added.

The IGT ASA programme is the major philanthropic initiative for IGT, formerly GTECH, which has been the online lottery technology provider to Supreme Ventures Limited since it began selling online draw games in 2001.