MP launches Pack for Progress for students

Tyra Trotman, MP for St Michael Central, has launched a back-to-school drive aimed at helping up to 100 children get the supplies they need for the new school year.

Trotman said the Pack for Progress: Together We Learn initiative started last year, before she was elected to Parliament.

Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham

Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham

She spoke to the media at her constituency office on Leinster Road, Waterford, St Michael, on Thursday.

“It has always been my thing that education is a great equaliser no matter where you come from, whether it’s the heights or the hood. Once you get your strong background in education, you can really liberate yourselves.”

Trotman, who benefited from free education, said helping young people with their education could improve their lives.

“It creates numerous opportunities for young people, and it’s something I believe strongly in being someone who benefited from free education myself, and it’s something that we as Barbarians should pride ourselves in in terms of having that resource available for young people.”

Last year, Trotman started the initiative on her own, providing backpacks and school supplies to children in need. This year, she has the backing of two organisations, The Dream Team/Dream Mass and the Affluent Bunch.

Head of the Affluent Bunch Akhnaten Burrowes spoke about his passion for giving back, particularly to at-risk youth.

“People would have always helped me and helped my friends, and we would have grown and benefited from such initiatives. So we wanted to do not just a party, but a party with a purpose where people can benefit from the same help that I and myself and my team would have benefited from.”

Burrowes said his organisation contributed stationery for students.

Trotman welcomed additional donations from other organisations as she seeks to assist more children in the future.

She said school uniforms and shoes were among the biggest needs for children preparing to return to school.

“Yes, there are backpacks that are expensive if you want to do the brand name, but they’re, you can get them at a reasonable price but in terms of uniforms and school shoes, those are the most requested items …”

Trotman said additional donations would allow the initiative to reach more children.

Keisha Thorne, a member of Dream Team Entertainment, said: “The whole initiative is very important because no child should be left out.”

Trotman invited donors to visit her constituency office in St Michael to make contributions for children in need.

(LG)