Left to right: Sport For Life Coordinator Kathy Harper-Hall and students Shaniah Rowe and Donte Milman accepted the equipment from Sports Development Officer Stephen Rowe yesterday.
Sport For Life receives a leg up
The Ministry of the Creative Economy, Culture and Sports did a bit to ease the squeeze on the Sport For Life programme when they made a small donation to the cause this weekend. During a presentation held yesterday at Kensington Oval where the programme is run, government officials handed over the package which included two laptops, tables and cricket balls.
Sport For Life has been in operation over the past 11 years providing troubled children with support in academics and life-skills using cricket as a catalyst. Since its inception, over 700 youngsters have passed through the programme which is funded completely through donations.
Speaking during the presentation, Coordinator Kathy Harper-Hall stated that the donation was appreciated and a timely one and that there were still some needs that had to be met.
“Last year, the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust gave us 10 laptops. But we really needed at minimum 15 so we sent out an appeal and the Ministry has given us two. We need another three,” she said.
Sports Development Officer in the Ministry Stephen Rowe handed over the equipment and said that it was necessary for them to step in and offer assistance.
“When it came to our attention that the programme was in trouble and experiencing the amount of difficulty that you are currently experiencing with respect to equipment, we at the Ministry immediately decided that we had to assist. This is a very small donation that we are making and we are hoping that it will greatly assist the programme in its continuity,” he said.
Rowe went on to urge the students to make the most of the items as well as the opportunity presented to them. “The Ministry was involved in Sport for Life from the inception. We looked at the initiative and we saw the importance of it with respect to reaching out to you the kids, getting you involved in sports and assisting you with your academics and life skills. Most importantly is the camaraderie that you will receive and enjoy in this programme,” Rowe said. (MP)