Palmyra Foundation distributes books to kids
Published:Monday | September 13, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was among the Montego Bay businessmen who turned up in classrooms across St James and Hanover last week to distribute some 7,000 books to more than 2,000 students.
The project, an outreach by the Palmyra Foundation, is valued at J$5.1 million.
Now in its third year, the foundation focuses its attention on infant schoolchildren who are the most susceptible in relation to the type of education they receive during the formative years.
This year, the emphasis has been placed on the tag line, 'The future is bright, when you can read and write', while 11 public infant schools are beneficiaries.
The recipients included Montego Bay and Catherine Hall Primary and infant schools, where 643 four-year-olds who turned up for their first day at school were presented with pink and blue book bags by boxing icon Lewis, his wife, Violet, and the foundation team.
"As usual, Lennox Lewis was happy to lend a hand when it came to the children of Jamaica. He is the champ for what he did today," remarked Palmyra Resort and Spa's Robert T. Trotta, who handed out books with Lewis.
Brainquest test
According to a release from the foundation, the children each received their own bookbag with a pack of crayons, a pencil, a 300-page BrainQuest workbook and an average of three scholastic reading books valued at US$30 per pack.
"The BrainQuest workbook, single-handedly, will give every child the opportunity to learn their letters and numbers," said Palmyra Foundation's spokesman, Ragni Trotta.
To measure the exact impact of the books, she said the foundation was providing a general skill test that would be administered both to children who have received books and those who have not.
"We are very excited to see what results the books will produce by the end of the school year."
The project lasted an entire week, attracting a good showing of men - a scarce commodity in the lives of a number of the island's youths. Among the male role models were attorney-at-law Gordon Brown, John Swaby of John Swaby Entertain-ment, Government Senator Noel Sloley and Barry Bonito of ADS Global Inc.
"I think the most gratifying aspect of the experience of sharing these gifts of learning and opportunity with these delightful, energetic, hopeful children is the knowledge that we were there, with and for them from the very start," said Brown.
"Today makes one reflect on the reality that it truly does take a village to raise a child and, through the Palmyra Foundation, we are happy to play our part as our children's keepers."