REACHING over 1 300 of the nation’s youth through its Breakfast Programme, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is seeking to touch more even more lives.
Next Saturday May 27, the YWCA will be hosting Fun Fest at the Queen’s College, St. James and Barbadians of all ages and walks of life are being encouraged to attend this fun-filled event for this worthy cause.
Fun Fest will feature a number of attractions including amusement rides, haunted house, lucky dips, face painting, magicians, pet zone, variety stall. A farmers’ market will also be on site and all items will be donated by the BADMC, with the funds
generated to be donated to the breakfast programme. There will also be live entertainment.
Yesterday YWCA President Tamita Griffith highlighted plans for the family event, noting that all proceeds will go towards the YWCA’s Summer Take Away Breakfast package and the general YWCA Breakfast programme, the latter of which is now in its tenth year.
Speaking to the media during a press launch at Queen’s College yesterday, Griffith gave a report card of the YWCA’s accomplishments, saying that there are continuous reports that many beneficiaries of the breakfast programme have shown improvement in their classroom behaviour and school work.
“Studies show that those who have access to breakfast perform better on standardised tests than those who skip breakfast. Others have confirmed that the positive effects on academic performance and reduced rates of absenteeism and tardiness due to children not being able to access breakfast have also impacted on these children.”
The president revealed that the programme currently caters to 15 schools, both primary and secondary school, with another school in the north recently being added. “In addition to our Deacons Road headquarters, breakfast is prepared at seven centres across the island all of which we supply stock. At present we incur in excess of $6 000 in expenses per month to sustain this programme. This figure is lower than in the past, since we now receive great in-kind support from businesses and individuals.”
She explained that the highest expenses tend to the purchasing of stock and utilities. “With only three support staff employed at our Deacons Road headquarters we are extremely grateful or the assistance given to persons who volunteer daily to serve and transport breakfast across the island.”
Griffith thanked the partners who came on board, all of whom stated that assisting the Breakfast programme was a “no brainer,” since the cause was so important to the nation’s youth and their development. Represented were Category Manager Banks Holdings Ltd Shari Boyce, Head of Capital Media HD 99.3 Vic Fernandes, Chairman of Queen’s College George Pilgrim as well as principals and other sponsors and entertainers and volunteers who have generiously donated of their time and services to make the event a success.
The YWCA president also revealed that Fun fest will predominately feature female vendors and service providers. “When we help women, the YWCA believes we also help families, as women are the majority of the heads of households in Barbados.”
She told the media that the breakfast programme has been selected by the local franchise owner of Miss World Barbados as their charity of choice. “So all the participants will be assisting not only the breakfast programme but also other events throughout the year,” she said. (JH)