KINGSTON, Jamaica, –As more and more schools are faced with replacing or diversifying in-person instruction with some form of distance learning, the Sandals Foundation is helping to make that transition a little easier for students across the Caribbean.
On Monday, October 5, the Sandals Foundation expanded its Lessons Alive social media campaign to raise funds for purchasing digital tablets for vulnerable primary school students across the region.
Each contribution of US $200 goes towards the purchase of a brand new tablet. And, as a further show of its commitment to the cause, the Sandals Foundation will match the donation up to 500 tablets – doubling its impact and reach.
With the Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International and President of the Sandals Foundation, Adam Stewart, leading the charge, and working alongside its valued partners, team members, and well-wishers, the Foundation took to social media to galvanize supportfor its remote learning goal.
“We are absolutely encouragedby the positive response since launching this expanded focus of our Lessons Alive campaign. In less than 24 hours, we’ve secured more than 400 tablets. The Sandals Foundation has always placed a priority on education and with this campaign, we can help ensure our children have as much support as possible,” said Adam Stewart.
In August, the Sandals Foundation launched theLessons Alive campaign to help families across the Caribbean prepare for the new academic year.
Since then, the team has effected the construction of multiple proper hand wash stations across 18 schools to foster better hygiene practicesand sourced school supplies for students.
Now, throughout the months of October and November, the campaign will focus on assessing the remote learning landscape and assisting where there is a need across the seven countries in which it operates - Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados and The Turks & Caicos Islands.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation says the campaign’s newly expanded focus will help lessen the digital divide.
“For many families here in the Caribbean, access to the Internet, computers and digital devices are severely limited or nonexistent, but together, we can change that! This campaign will help us raise much needed funds to purchase the devices needed to help primary school students in tourism dependent communities continue their formal learning programme.” Clarke said.
Persons are invitedto join in the efforts by donating to Education at www.sandalsfoundation.org100% of every dollar donated will go directly to remote learning resources.
Sandals Foundation:
The Sandals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created to continue and to expand upon the philanthropic work that Sandals Resorts International has undertaken. It is the culmination of close to four decades of dedication to playing a meaningful role in the lives of the communities where we operate across the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community and the environment. One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean community. To learn more about the Sandals Foundation, visit online at www.sandalsfoundation.orgor follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
