In a significant boost to early childhood education, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has launched the Early Pages Programme through a collaborative partnership between Hands Across the Sea and the Mustique Charitable Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative specifically targets preschool education by delivering over 5,000 brand-new books and educational materials to 20 preschool centers across the nation.
The comprehensive donation, valued at approximately US$40,000, reaches 17 government-operated and three private early childhood centers. The program represents a strategic expansion beyond the organization’s traditional focus on primary and secondary education, marking a deliberate shift toward foundational literacy development.
During a formal handover ceremony at the National Public Library in Kingstown on Friday, education officials emphasized the transformative potential of early literary exposure. Literacy Link representative Enna Bullock articulated the program’s core mission: “We want preschoolers to receive the treasures found in libraries and literacy initiatives in preparation for kindergarten.” She highlighted how the program seamlessly integrates with the ministry’s existing early childhood curriculum by making literacy an explicit component of the preschool environment.
Chief Education Officer Kay Martin Jack acknowledged Hands Across the Sea’s enduring impact on educational development, noting that literacy development begins long before primary education and establishes the foundation for lifelong learning. The initiative also provided additional resources to 14 schools (12 primary and 2 secondary) to support recovery from Hurricane Beryl’s impact on educational infrastructure.
Education Officer Jane Farrell from the Ministry’s Early Childhood Department expressed enthusiasm about the program’s timing and potential to cultivate authentic reading engagement among the nation’s youngest learners. Beneficiary representatives including Rochelle Tannis of Bequia Anglican Early Childhood Centre and Joy Haynes of Barrouallie Government School conveyed appreciation for the resources that will create literacy-rich environments for exploration and development.
This donation extends Hands Across the Sea’s 18-year partnership with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which has now distributed over 145,000 books throughout the Eastern Caribbean nation.