By Valencia Grant, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Release No. 304
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2017 (PRESS SEC) – Yesterday’s 14th Annual Help-a-Child Program Primary School Scholarship Award Ceremony saw the program’s founder, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, present $500.00 each to 68 primary school students from his Constituency (Saint Christopher 7 – Belle Vue to Ottley’s).
The $34,000.00 in bursaries presented during Tuesday’s ceremony that was held at the House of Deliverance New Testament Church of God in Tabernacle brought the total amount awarded to date under the Help-a-Child program to $251,500.00. Over the past 14 years, $500.00 bursaries have been given to a total of 503 students.
“Several entities give support to my efforts, making it possible for me to help so many,” Prime Minister Harris has said of his Annual Help-a-Child Program.
This year’s awardees attend the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive, Edgar T. Morris Primary, Estridge Primary, Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary, and Violet Petty Primary Schools.
Help-a-Child, which was established to assist financially needy students in Constituency #7, enlists the assistance of principals and teachers to identify candidates who demonstrate financial need.
The identification and selection process culminates annually with the Help-a-Child Program Primary School Scholarship Award Ceremony, which is a well-attended event that brings Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris’ kindness and generosity, as well as his Constituents’ high appreciation of him to the fore.
One of his Constituents, Katherina Davis, the reigning Miss National Carnival Queen, summed up Dr. Harris’ impact on her life while giving the vote of thanks.
Addressing Prime Minister Harris directly, Katherina Davis said: “You may not know all the students you have helped, but I was one of those students many years ago. When I received my $500.00 years ago, I asked my mother: ‘Why?’”
Katherina Davis went on to note that, “When I got money, I usually got it from my grandfather and it was just one dollar at that time – every Sunday, one dollar. So I was puzzled. Why would someone want to give me $500.00? My mother said, ‘Timothy Harris gave it to you so you can take your education seriously!’”
The reigning Miss National Carnival Queen continued, beaming: “I graduated from the Molineux Primary School [now called the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School] and I got [the award for] the Best Improved Student. I went on to Cayon High School and I graduated with 11 subjects. I went on to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, and my future goal is to gain my bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. This is just my report of where your $500.00 investment went to, and now I am the reigning National Carnival Queen of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
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