Enis Adams Primary School Gets New Playground
Posted by Yvonne Crabbe
on Mar 20, 2012
Students of the Enis Adams Primary School enjoying their new playground, thanks to the combined efforts of the Rotary Club of Road Town and the Rotary Club of San Juan. Photo: VINO
Students of the Enis Adams Primary School now have a brand new playground and during the handing over ceremony today, March 20, students were urged to take good care of the completely assembled playground set.
The initiative is part of the Education Ministry's Adopt-A-School programme and was done by the Rotary Club of Road Town in partnership with the Rotary Club of San Juan.
Yvonne Crabbe, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town who said that hard work was pumped into the project, urged students to take good care of the playground set since it cost $24,761.00 to get the equipment on island, but several more thousand dollars had to be added to cover installation and other expenses.
Mr. Charles Benjamin, Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Road Town gave an overview of the project. He said within the community, Rotary Clubs undertake projects with the assistance of local, as well as international partners.
"As President, I first challenged my club directors and officers, and secondly club members to improve the playground equipment at our adopted school, the Enis Adams Primary School. Luckily, the response was in the affirmative and this was the easiest part of the project," he said.
Benjamin said once the equipment was identified and the quotation received from BYO Playground, the supplier, the real work commenced. He said the cost of the equipment plus shipping to the BVI could not exceed $25,000.00 in total, as that was the maximum amount that could be secured through a matching grant with the Rotary foundation.
He said they were able to get past the next hurdle of attracting an international partner or another Rotary Club outside District 7020 and this was Mark McCullough, a Rotarian in the San Juan club.
Benjamin disclosed that the contributions to the project were host club - $3,500; international partner - $4,000; district designated funds host club - $3,200; district designated funds international partner - $3,200; and Rotary International contribution - $10,861.65.
"Rotary is no doubt the only non profit organization that can leverage the club's contributions of $7,500.00 and realise a purchase/project of $24,761.65," he stated.
Benjamin said the Ministry of Education and Culture paid for the installation of the playground at the school.
"The supplier BYO Playground received full payment for the equipment and after some weeks it arrived in the Territory. A number of agencies including the Ministry of Education and Culture, Her Majesty's Customs and the BVI Ports Authority all assisted with the necessary paperwork and approvals."
He said,"The equipment was then transferred to the Enis Adams Primary School and the installation was completed by Mr. Stuart Donovan, DBA Smart Kids. The cost of the installation has been undertaken by the Ministry of Education and Culture and we are therefore greatly indebted to you Minister [Hon. Myron Walwyn], for the generous contribution."
Meanwhile, Representative for the Second District, Hon. Alvin Christopher also spoke at the event and thanked the Rotary Club on behalf of residents of the district. He said it is indeed a wonderful playground.
He noted that the little contribution by the Education Minister was a good one. "We hope more can be done...We will be taking him to another location to check out in the district," Hon. Christopher chuckled.
Minister Walwyn told the gathering that it is a good thing to see the community come together for such initiatives. He said with the limited resources globally, such partnership is needed. The Minister stated that he knows that this year is going to be a challenging one for the Ministry financially.
Hon. Walwyn urged the students to take good care of the playground. "...As you heard, this did not come easily."
He also mentioned that often time members of the business community and Rotary are not given the recognition for their contributions. He took the opportunity to thank LIME for their help in the installation of computers at the Elmore Stoutt High School Resource Centre which is underway.
Mrs. Carlene Parsons, Principal of the Enis Adams Primary School said the Rotary Club pays full attention to the school and their presence at the school is good.
Two students who are part of the school's Early Act Club did the vote of thanks on behalf of the school.
The initiative is part of the Education Ministry's Adopt-A-School programme and was done by the Rotary Club of Road Town in partnership with the Rotary Club of San Juan.
Yvonne Crabbe, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town who said that hard work was pumped into the project, urged students to take good care of the playground set since it cost $24,761.00 to get the equipment on island, but several more thousand dollars had to be added to cover installation and other expenses.
Mr. Charles Benjamin, Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Road Town gave an overview of the project. He said within the community, Rotary Clubs undertake projects with the assistance of local, as well as international partners.
"As President, I first challenged my club directors and officers, and secondly club members to improve the playground equipment at our adopted school, the Enis Adams Primary School. Luckily, the response was in the affirmative and this was the easiest part of the project," he said.
Benjamin said once the equipment was identified and the quotation received from BYO Playground, the supplier, the real work commenced. He said the cost of the equipment plus shipping to the BVI could not exceed $25,000.00 in total, as that was the maximum amount that could be secured through a matching grant with the Rotary foundation.
He said they were able to get past the next hurdle of attracting an international partner or another Rotary Club outside District 7020 and this was Mark McCullough, a Rotarian in the San Juan club.
Benjamin disclosed that the contributions to the project were host club - $3,500; international partner - $4,000; district designated funds host club - $3,200; district designated funds international partner - $3,200; and Rotary International contribution - $10,861.65.
"Rotary is no doubt the only non profit organization that can leverage the club's contributions of $7,500.00 and realise a purchase/project of $24,761.65," he stated.
Benjamin said the Ministry of Education and Culture paid for the installation of the playground at the school.
"The supplier BYO Playground received full payment for the equipment and after some weeks it arrived in the Territory. A number of agencies including the Ministry of Education and Culture, Her Majesty's Customs and the BVI Ports Authority all assisted with the necessary paperwork and approvals."
He said,"The equipment was then transferred to the Enis Adams Primary School and the installation was completed by Mr. Stuart Donovan, DBA Smart Kids. The cost of the installation has been undertaken by the Ministry of Education and Culture and we are therefore greatly indebted to you Minister [Hon. Myron Walwyn], for the generous contribution."
Meanwhile, Representative for the Second District, Hon. Alvin Christopher also spoke at the event and thanked the Rotary Club on behalf of residents of the district. He said it is indeed a wonderful playground.
He noted that the little contribution by the Education Minister was a good one. "We hope more can be done...We will be taking him to another location to check out in the district," Hon. Christopher chuckled.
Minister Walwyn told the gathering that it is a good thing to see the community come together for such initiatives. He said with the limited resources globally, such partnership is needed. The Minister stated that he knows that this year is going to be a challenging one for the Ministry financially.
Hon. Walwyn urged the students to take good care of the playground. "...As you heard, this did not come easily."
He also mentioned that often time members of the business community and Rotary are not given the recognition for their contributions. He took the opportunity to thank LIME for their help in the installation of computers at the Elmore Stoutt High School Resource Centre which is underway.
Mrs. Carlene Parsons, Principal of the Enis Adams Primary School said the Rotary Club pays full attention to the school and their presence at the school is good.
Two students who are part of the school's Early Act Club did the vote of thanks on behalf of the school.