Members of the St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) Generation Department have delivered on their promise to fund a Christmas party for students of the Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre.
It has been three years since a core group of 13 members of the LUCELEC department began volunteering at the special needs school.
To date they have repaired and installed software on computers in the school’s computer lab, raised funds to replace a short circuited voltage regulator, and worked with Courts to give the school a brand new stove.
Ahead of the start of each academic year, the volunteers also undertake maintenance jobs, pressure wash walls and stairs and paint the school. The Christmas party was one of a number of new initiatives LUCELEC Senior Shift Operations Supervisor Nathanial Deterville says the group wanted to take on.
On December 5 Deterville was joined by three staff members from the Generation Department –Graham King, Abigail Pascal and Verlan Charles –in presenting two students from the Ciceron-based school with a cash donation of $2,110 for the Christmas party.
School Principal Linda Preville says every year, students bring items from home and school teachers pitch in for the party.
However, the LUCELEC donation would ensure the activity is a grander affair.
“Most of our kids never have a Christmas party at home, but the school is definitely one place where we do something for them, ensuring they can go home with a gift. For some of them, it’s a highlight since they come from homes that really cannot afford to spend money on presents,” says Preville.
The Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre caters to the educational needs of special needs children including the visually and hearing impaired as well as those with learning disabilities like autism.