News updates
REACH Grenada and WINDREF work together to improve children’s health
06 March 2010REACH Grenada's recent decision to fund a project led by the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) will significantly improve the health of children in St Andrew’s Parish schools in Grenada.
Having already delivered many successful educational and agricultural projects which have benefited children in St Andrew’s Parish schools in 2009, REACH Grenada have extended their program and are proud to partner with the internationally esteemed WINDREF. The project will until run until the end of 2010 and aims first to measure and then to reduce the incidence of Rheumatic Fever infections and Intestinal Helminthes (worms) among children aged 5-15 years in St. Andrew’s Parish schools.
Neglected Tropical Diseases such as intestinal Helminths affect rural areas of Grenada and can seriously impede children’s physical growth and cognitive development with time spent away from education and developmental activities. Dr. Karen Lawson, Co-Founder of REACH Grenada comments:
“This special partnership combining WINDREF’s wealth of scientific expertise and local knowledge and REACH Grenada’s provision of appropriate funding and resources will reduce children’s unnecessary suffering, improve health and increase educational achievement.”
Assistant Director of WINDREF Mr. Trevor Noël is leading the project and explains what it involves: “After informed parental consent is obtained 750 students from 14 schools in St Andrew’s Parish will be screened, evaluated and if necessary treated for Helminthic and Streptococcal infections. Depending on the incidence of these problems in the population, the project will also include a mass de-worming component for approximately 4,000 children. The educational component is aimed at future disease prevention and health promotion in St Andrew’s Parish schools which will have long-term benefits for the children and their community.”
REACH Grenada is committed to improving the lives of children in Grenada and establishing partnerships with highly acclaimed organizations such as WINDREF, so that it can build upon and expand its programs to benefit even more children in the future.
Comments (0) - Add A Comment
Team REACH Grenada’s great strides raise significant funds in NYC Marathon
11 November 2009Team REACH Grenada successfully completed the world famous ING New York City Marathon on November 1st 2009 raising over $65,000 USD in sponsorship money from over 580 international donors for REACH Grenada. With a cheering crowd, electric atmosphere and strong individual commitment to a shared goal, all 25 members of the team demonstrated determination to reach the finishing line and raise vital funds for REACH Grenada.
Honorable Derrick James, Consul General of Grenada, attended the pre-Marathon party hosted by REACH and praised the team’s participation and the charity’s ongoing commitment to helping the children of Grenada: "This is a commendable gesture which will long be remembered. The government will continue to partner with organisations like REACH Grenada which has provided significant assistance to charity on the island.”
The marathon marks an important milestone for REACH Grenada and the team’s outstanding success in raising funds and achieving projected targets clearly illustrates the charity’s strength of conviction, care and commitment. REACH Grenada’s aim is to establish a longstanding tradition of marathon participation to provide an ongoing source of sponsorship funding. As Neo Moreton explains: “We hope to increase the number of team members and the levels of sponsorship money each member raises in 2010. REACH Grenada is particularly keen to recruit more Grenadian runners and we call upon any Grenadian, Caribbean and West Indian communities to join the team in running next year’s NYC Marathon.”
This year’s Team REACH Grenada consisted of representatives from six nations. Three team members were Grenadian runners including New York-based Alister Renwick who comments: “As a born Grenadian I am most grateful for the opportunity to run ING NYC MARATHON to raise funds for the children of Grenada” and Grenada-based runners Marc De Caul and Marilyn Renwick who says: “I am thrilled to be participating in such a prestigious race and what could be more fulfilling than to complete it on behalf of the children of my home, Grenada.”
Comments (11) - Add A Comment
REACH Grenada’s grow box initiative plants strong roots in St Andrew’s Parish Schools
30 October 2009Committed to improving children’s health and well being through education about the benefits of home-grown produce, REACH Grenada has recently provided 13 wooden grow boxes, made by local Grenville craftsmen, to St Andrew’s Parish schools.
The Grow Box project, set up by REACH Grenada in partnership with schools, supports the Government of Grenada’s National School’s Feeding Program and National Agriculture ‘Short Crop’ Competition. Closely linked to the Science curriculum the project aims to teach students how to cultivate soil and produce ‘in-season’ fruit and root vegetables rich in nutritional value, through fun, creative, ‘hands-on’ approaches to teaching and learning. Neo Moreton, Executive Director of REACH Grenada, explains the long-term benefits of the project:
“The recent economic downturn has caused a necessary global shift away from importing fresh produce where possible. With its fertile soil Grenada is very well-placed agriculturally to produce its own home-grown fruits and vegetables and cultivating knowledge and interest in growing and harvesting crops at a grass roots level, in schools, can help to create an ongoing culture of self-sufficiency. This will help to provide a sustainable, healthy diet for children, reduce dependency on other countries and keep Grenada’s economy strong, now and in the future.”
REACH Grenada’s grow box project supports schools’ local business enterprise projects and vegetable seeds and tools have been provided by a local hardware shop. All schools with successful crop harvests will be awarded a REACH certificate.
We are looking forward to seeing some great crop harvests next year!
Comments (5) - Add A Comment
Painted murals fit for a Queen!
29 September 2009REACH Grenada’s mural painting project has been successfully completed and gratefully received by children and staff at the Queen Elizabeth Children’s Home, Grenada.
The project involved REACH Grenada volunteers, including six children from New York, U.S.A, who painted the colorful, nature-inspired mural for two mornings alongside children and care workers from Queen Elizabeth Children’s Home in a shared aim to enhance the interior environment and inspire, calm and motivate the children. Marion Pierre, Executive Chairperson of Queen Elizabeth Home comments: “I am seeing the mural in my dreams and every where even when I am away from the Home. It has not only brightened up the room but the hearts of us all. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the staff and children I thank you and ask God's blessings on all of you to continue the work you are doing.”
The mural painting project is one of many examples of REACH Grenada’s successful collaborative partnership with Grenadian people, a philosophy at the core of REACH Grenada’s work and successes. Neo Moreton, Executive Director of REACH Grenada took part in the painting and says: “This was a relatively simple task but one that has made an instant and effective improvement to the children’s environment. It was great to be a part of something that has really made a difference.”
It is also part of REACH Grenada’s wider aim to provide ongoing support to the children of Queen Elizabeth Home with additional funding going towards providing psycho-social counseling training for care workers and intern medical students as well as social emotional support through discussion groups and guidance in relaxation, breathing and meditation.
Comments (4) - Add A Comment
Prizewinners running for REACH!
23 September 2009REACH Grenada are excited to announce two lucky prizewinners of their special New York City Marathon competition. Grenadian runners Marilyn Renwick and Marc de Caul have each won a place to join 21 other runners as part of ‘Team REACH Grenada’ and run in the world famous ING NYC Marathon, taking place on November 1st 2009, in order to raise money for REACH Grenada. The generous prize includes return flights to JFK New York City airport and guaranteed entry into the marathon race.
One of the competition’s conditions was that the entrants had to commit to raising sponsorship money, most of which will go directly towards funding the numerous ongoing initiatives and projects that REACH Grenada has implemented over the past two years.
Another requirement for successful entrants was the submission of a detailed outline of ideas for future REACH Grenada initiatives and projects that would directly benefit children in Grenada. This reflects REACH Grenada’s tradition of close collaboration with, and personal involvement of, the people of Grenada in its aim to create and develop projects that generate long term, sustainable funding and results. As Dr Karen Lawson, Director of The Bartholomew J. Lawson Foundation and Founder of REACH Grenada says:
“We are really excited to welcome Marilyn Renwick and Marc de Caul as part of ‘Team REACH Grenada’. Partnership is at the core of REACH Grenada’s work and is vital to its successes which continue to benefit the children of Grenada.”
Comments (5) - Add A Comment
REACH Grenada provides touch-screen technology for children with Special Educational Needs
15 August 2009
REACH Grenada has generously provided $2,065 for a new computer to greatly improve the quality of learning for children with diverse Special Educational Needs (SEN) at St Andrew’s Special School, Grenada.
The funding of this much-needed SEN resource is part of REACH Grenada’s Partnership with Schools Program which aims to develop educational resources in some of Grenada’s schools.
Provision for Grenadian students with SEN is an area that has been largely under-funded due to the allocation of limited educational resources to mainstream students. The special computer’s touch screen technology, keyboard and range of educational software provide equal access to the curriculum for SEN students and enable a more personalized approach to their learning. By encouraging students to become independent learners, whilst recognising some of their individual challenges and needs, REACH Grenada hopes to enable all children to reach their full potential, thereby increasing their levels of confidence, self esteem and enjoyment of learning. The computer is a very welcome addition to St Andrew’s Special School as Principal Mirthlyn V.M Leid-Raymond comments:
"The students with Cerebral Palsy are finding it easier to use the equipment since it only requires a touch to access programs. We have language and maths programs with which the students have fun learning to read, spell and just using the computer in general. Basically, this computer is one of the most beneficial pieces of equipment the school possesses. THANK YOU REACH!!"
Comments (6) - Add A Comment
Poultry project hatching far-reaching results!
27 July 2009Working in collaboration with the Government of Grenada’s Ministry of Education, REACH Grenada has provided substantial funding to develop chicken projects to help support Grenada’s National School Feeding Program.
As part of our Partnership with Schools Program, REACH Grenada’s chicken project aims to provide ‘real’ learning opportunities for students in some of St Andrew’s Parish primary schools, by supporting schools’ mini business social enterprise, i.e. breeding and selling chickens and providing a supplementary source of meat for the National School Feeding Program.
REACH Grenada’s aim is that the chicken project will be a self sustaining, ongoing scheme for schools that will generate funds to improve schools’ resources, enhance the quality of students’ learning experience and teach children that productive farming benefits the community as well as the individual.
The enterprise is proving to be very successful, with students, schools and the community reaping the benefits of REACH Grenada’s generous contribution as some of the teachers’ comments confirm:
- “The project provides first hand experience for students who may want to go into a small business operation”
- “[The chickens] were sold mainly to the school feeding project and a few to the neighbors and teachers”
- “It is our hope to continue this project with the aim of purchasing a photocopier at a cost of $5000 by year end.”
Comments (4) - Add A Comment
REACH Grenada to run in ING’s NYC Marathon, November 1, 2009
29 May 2009REACH Grenada has been accepted as a charity in this year’s ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1st, having been awarded a team size of 25 people. Each runner must pledge to raise $2,500, which will directly benefit Grenada’s orphanages, hospitals, and schools, and improve the lives of Grenada’s children. To learn more or to become a part of this inspiring and motivated team, please click here.
Comments (4) - Add A Comment
REACH Grenada believes that ‘literacy changes lives’ ….
19 April 2009REACH Grenada recently provided $5,358 US dollars worth of Jolly Phonics Learning Resources for the Primary Partnership with Schools to support early learning. This substantial order was placed with local supplier Michael Philbert of Grenada Teachers’ School Suppliers Ltd thus giving a boost to the local economy.
The recent contribution is part of a wider REACH Grenada literacy program, aiming to support schools to help improve child reading and writing skills. REACH Grenada Partnership with Schools Program got off to a great start in December 2008 with a two day Literacy Training event for school teachers of St Andrew Parish, led by UK literacy expert and consultant advisor to REACH Grenada, Elaine Moreton M.Ed. B.A.(Hons)
Training covered reading, spelling and writing and included interactive activities based on the latest research in brain learning. During day two teachers worked together to produce a booklet of activity sheets to develop pupils’ writing with subjects ranging from healthy eating, living things, growing seeds, spelling and basic literacy. Teacher’s evaluation comments show that the training days were highly valued and 100% of teachers said they would try suggested strategies in their classroom and that they would recommend the training to other teachers. Here are some of the teacher’s comments:
1]“Enlightening, enjoyable and educational.”
2] “Please ensure that this training reaches all the other teachers in our island.” 3]“I really enjoyed the day and found the workshop activity rewarding and interesting”.
Comments (4) - Add A Comment
REACH Grenada equips St. Andrew schools with state-of-the art computer equipment
14 February 2009REACH Grenada recently purchased $23,670 US dollars worth of computer equipment from local supplier D & S Stationary and Computer Services in Grenville, St. Andrew. The brand new lap top computers and printers along with a years supply of paper and ink have now been successfully installed in eighteen of St. Andrew primary and secondary schools. As well as giving a boost to the local economy, this generous donation improves the provision of quality computer equipment and it is hoped to encourage open dialogue between teachers to share successful teaching and learning strategies across schools.
Comments (4) - Add A Comment
A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words
26 November 2008Motivated originally simply to ‘document’ the project’s progress, REACH Grenada decided to capture activities on film. The filming was pioneered in early 2008 by a group of volunteer film school students from London who traveled to Grenada at their own expense to film and produce the early pilot film reels. This project has now become a ‘documentary in the making’ and after several preliminary viewings it has generated a fair amount of interest leading to already securing initial funding as well as attracting the eyes and ears of a British Academy award winning TV Producer who has agreed to assist in further developing the documentary. Our goal is simple, to inspire greater social activism and more out-of-the box philanthropic thinking.
Comments (9) - Add A Comment
Eco-tourism in Grenada gets a helping hand
21 November 2008This coming December 14 - 17 2008, Laluna luxury beachside resort hotel is opening its new stunning Balinese style yoga and spa facility located directly on the water’s edge. Laluna’s owner, himself socially responsible and active in the local community, has invited Yoga Master Neo Moreton (www.yogawithneo.com) to offer special ‘Eco Chic Yoga Weeks’ to the paying public to help promote Laluna’s new spa as of the Caribbean’s premier new and exciting eco-destinations.
Comments (13) - Add A Comment
