In an event celebrating both local athletic achievement and childhood literacy, Saint Lucia’s iconic Olympic sprint champion Julien Alfred has donated 50 copies of a children’s book telling her inspirational life story to local education charity Diverse Classroom Books. The handover ceremony took place this Friday at Ciceron Primary School, Alfred’s own elementary alma mater that first nurtured her growth.
Titled *Peanut and the Julien Visit*, the book was written by Saint Lucian author A.L. Dawn French and commissioned by 1st National Bank, one of the island nation’s leading financial institutions. The illustrated title chronicles Alfred’s humble origins, relentless dedication to training, and groundbreaking journey to becoming Saint Lucia’s first Olympic sprint champion, turning her historic career into an accessible, uplifting tale for young readers.
Diverse Classroom Books, the recipient of the donation, is a Saint Lucian non-profit focused on expanding school library holdings across the island. The organization works to put new, culturally relevant and engaging children’s books into local classrooms, with the core mission of fostering a lifelong love of reading among Saint Lucia’s youth.
Shnell Donacien, the charity’s founder and a Choiseul native who built an 18-year career in international education across the United Kingdom, India, and most recently China, emphasized that this donation carries unique meaning for the organization’s work. “Over the past 12 months, we have reached more than 20 communities across the island, starting in our home region of Choiseul and expanding to Vieux Fort, Soufrière, Canaries, Blanchard, and Babonneau,” Donacien explained. “The 50 copies of Julien’s book will be distributed to students during our upcoming school visits across all regions of Saint Lucia.”
Donacien expressed deep gratitude for the collaboration with 1st National Bank and Alfred, noting that the champion’s commitment to literacy sends a powerful message to young people across the island. “We are incredibly proud that Julien Alfred recognizes the critical importance of childhood literacy, and understands the value of having a local role model’s story on school library shelves,” she said. “This generous donation will put an uplifting, relatable Saint Lucian success story directly into the hands of young readers, encouraging them to chase their own dreams, grow through reading, and explore new possibilities.”
The charity is currently open to new partnerships and requests for support: Saint Lucian schools seeking book donations, and local businesses or organizations interested in partnering to expand access to reading materials across the island, are invited to reach out. Those interested in learning more about Diverse Classroom Books or supporting its work can contact the organization via email at diverseclassroombooks@outlook.com, or follow its work on social media @diverseclassroombooks.