Kiwanis hands out playground equipment to basic schools

Nine basic schools in Cornwall recently benefited from the generosity of Kiwanis Club Division 25 (Cornwall), which provided them with playground equipment.

Last Saturday, two St Elizabeth-based basic schools, the Santa Cruz Early Childhood Institution and the Young Achievers Pre-School of the Women's Centre, in Junction, became beneficiaries of the project dubbed 'The Playground Effect.'

According to Glenda Miller, the lieutenant governor for the division, the project's aim is to identify basic schools that need playground equipment and supply them.

"'The Playground Effect' project is to improve the quality of some 13 identified play areas in early childhood institutions in that division by providing safe and appropriate equipment and supplies in keeping with the Early Childhood Commission's Operational Standards," said Miller. "The project also entails the staging of parental seminars within all the schools that stand to benefit through its assistance."

Approximately 1,000 children below the age of five have so far been able to benefit from the project through programmes designed to develop their cognitive and motor skills as a result of the play equipment that has been provided at their schools.

Leon Clarke, the principal of the Santa Cruz Early Childhood Institution, who was on hand to assist in the installation of the equipment at his school, was quite elated with the gift from the Kiwanians.

"It will help in the overall development of the children. The equipment is necessary for the school as it is in tandem with Standard 5 as prescribed by the Early Childhood Commission," said Clarke. "The equipment installed will be utilised by our students in many ways. It will help to develop their gross motor skills and keep them physically fit."

The Mountainside Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth will also receive equipment.