Manufacturer helping families prepare for return to school

One of Barbados’ leading manufacturing companies is forking out thousands of dollars to assist struggling families with back-to-school expenses, despite reporting a dip in business.

At the same time, some teachers have expressed a growing need for assistance due to more parents finding it increasingly difficult to even start their preparations, although classes will resume in just over a week.

On Thursday, Roberts Manufacturing Company Ltd. announced that it was providing assistance for 16 children – eight boys and eight girls – from eight schools.

During a short ceremony at Roberts Manufacturing’s Lower Estate, St Michael location, where the presentation was made to the representatives of the learning institutions, Managing Director Jason Sambrano said he was “acutely aware” of the challenges that people were facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pointing to an inability of some families to live as was customary prior to the pandemic, Sambrano said it was against this background that the company, although challenged to cope with the impact from the pandemic, considered it critical to share with those who found it more difficult.

“It is hoped that the grants comprising of vouchers for uniforms, shoes and stationery will ease some of the financial burden associated with getting the selected students ready for the new school term,” he said.

“We are keenly aware that it is not easy getting children ready for school under normal time. Hence, we appreciate the additional anxiety that this COVID-19 period created. At the same time, we see this period as an opportunity for all of us to be the best that we can be in making our country and by extension the world a better place for those who have to come after us.”

Students benefitting from the grants, valued at $500 each, are from Ellerton Primary, St George Primary, Cuthbert Moore Primary, St Jude’s Primary, St Matthew’s Primary, Workman’s Primary, St Luke’s Primary and the St George Secondary School.

Sambrano later told members of the media that giving back to the community was critical despite the difficult economic circumstances facing the company.

“Just like any other private entity within the island, there has been reduced demand due to the pandemic, with unemployment on the rise and softening demand. So we haven’t been unscathed from the whole situation. But we felt we had to play a greater role. While we have been impacted, we are still part of a community fabric and still need to make a vital contribution in helping people within the community. It just can’t all be about dollars and cents,” he explained.

He said once an assessment was done, a decision would be taken about whether it would be expanded to other schools, or what tweaks would be necessary.

“It is certainly something we don’t want to end here . . . . I don’t think this is the be all and end all of it,” Sambrano said.

Teachers at the selected schools have identified the students to receive the assistance.

Acting Principal at the St Matthew’s Primary School, Esther Wilkinson said when that school was chosen, she was elated.

“One of the things we noted was that some parents have at least two or three children in the school . . . but we recognize there will be challenges because some of the parents are not working and they are making strong contributions to the school in spite of these challenges. So we made our selections based on this,” she said.

“The parents are extremely grateful. Some of them have not started all the preparations necessary for school and they really appreciate the opportunity. We appreciate what Roberts Manufacturing has done for us. And we want corporate Barbados to understand that there are a lot of parents who are hurting. Some of them have lost jobs and they are not telling you about their needs. You have to dig because they have their pride . . . and we would appreciate all that corporate Barbados can do to ensure that the needs of more children in our schools can be met.”

Meanwhile, senior teacher at the St Luke’s Primary School, Heather Cheltenham-Williams told Barbados TODAY the process of selecting the students was an easy one.

“The students are going to be very grateful and the parents are going to be grateful for this donation. It is going to help them with the supplies they need in this pandemic time, as most of these parents are not working and they are faced with a lot of challenges, economically and socially. This is going to be very beneficial,” she stressed.

Cheltenham-Williams also called on the rest of corporate Barbados to play a greater role in assisting families, adding that the situation was a lot more dire than it appeared on the surface.

“I would like corporate Barbados to get on board in assisting students who need this financial help at this time,” she said.(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)