Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine 7th semester class delivered donated school supplies to Newton Ground Primary, providing the school with items ranging from notebooks to storybooks to begin the New Year.
As a final gesture before leaving the island, Blue Semester held a three-week donation drive to provide an opportunity for RUSVM students to give new and items in good condition to the school. Donations included nearly 60 binders, a variety of notebooks, pens and pencils, general office supplies, coloring books, and storybooks. The blue semester class will leave St. Kitts this month to complete their final clinical year. Afifah Abdul Rahim, 7th semester student and former student body president personally delivered the items to Newton Ground this week on behalf of her class.
Afifah organized the school supply drive for the primary school because she felt it was important to inspire children to study at a very young age.
“At that age I remember not wanting to study much, but I remember when I got a new pen; something so simple like that could give me motivation to study,” said Afifah. She said she hopes that this donation will similarly inspire students. “Even if it inspired just one student, I think we would have achieved what we set out to do,” she said.
Newton Ground Primary School is located on the west side of island, and serves about 80 students.
“The supplies that we have received we will distribute to the students as well as the teachers to enable them to be better prepared and equipped going forward in 2017 to do their academic work,” said Newton Ground Primary Principal Mrs. Michelle Rochester Woodley.
Afifah hopes that lower classes will follow suit in the future with similar donations. "It’s something so simple, ensures that good things do not go to waste and it’s our little way of paying it forward to the community in a simple yet meaningful way," she said.
“Seeing the faces of the kids and their anticipation to receive something new whether a storybook, a binder or even a box of colored pencils; I think it means a lot to them.”