Promoters spread Christmas cheer at Ellerton Primary

Students of the Special Unit at the Ellerton Primary School in St George were all smiles on Wednesday morning as organisers of BELLA, the popular garden party, delivered Christmas gifts as part of their December give-back initiative.

Alicia Nowell and Kelly Clarke-Turney, two of the organisers behind BELLA, delivered the gifts during a heartwarming ceremony attended by teachers and students. The gesture forms part of BELLA’s broader effort to support local institutions, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), through donations of baby items this month.

“Based on the tremendous support we’ve received from our patrons and sponsors throughout Barbados, we felt it was important to give back,” Nowell said while addressing the students.

She explained that BELLA, which will host its third edition on March 1, 2026, has launched a community give-back programme aimed at schools and the QEH.

Nowell added that the Ellerton Special Unit was chosen because of its unique role in supporting children with special needs, while the QEH’s NICU holds personal significance for both herself and Clarke-Turney, whose children benefited from the unit as newborns.

Acting Senior teacher of the Special Unit, Brenda Bourne, thanked the BELLA team for selecting Ellerton out of the many schools across Barbados. She told the students the visit was a reminder that they are cared for and encouraged them to always treat others with respect.

“The lovely, caring, kindhearted ladies, they have been thinking about you, because they love you,” she told the children. “There are so many schools they could have gone to, but they chose you. People think about you because they love you.”

Bourne urged the students to always be courteous to others, noting that acts of kindness often come from those they least expect.

During the presentation, Clarke-Turney handed out presents to the eager students and encouraged them to wait until Christmas Day to open them.
(LE)