Students Encouraged To Make Reading A Daily Staple

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, May 5, 2015: It was pandemonium and excitement galore, when the Republic Bank’s Literacy Caravan, rolled into several Primary Schools across Trinidad and Tobago and made surprise presentations to them, during the Bank’s literacy initiative which concluded on Friday.

A total of 12 schools benefitted from the Caravan, which included: Hockett Baptist, St. Pius, Arima West Government, Claxton Bay Junior A. C, Grande Riviere Primary School, Moriah Primary School and Spring Village Hindu. The schools received a large number of recreational books for their libraries.

Not only were the books a great surprise for the children, but mascot ELLIE the Owl, also made a tremendous impact on the students. Some screamed to the top of their voices, while others simply pulled at the “owl” in curiosity.

Speaking during the presentation, Republic Bank’s Social Investment Officer, Nadia Williams, encouraged the children to make reading a part of their everyday lives, while sharing with them the meaning of ELLIE.

“Education lasts longest in everyone, that’s what ELLIE stands for, No matter where you are in life or what you will experience, your education is the only thing that will remain with you for the rest of your life,” she stressed. “Through the Bank’s Power to Make a Difference Programme, we saw the need to give back to the communities in which we serve and by this investment, our aim is to assist the students of our nation in achieving their fullest potential, in every area of their lives,” she continued.

She urged the students to open their minds to reading and to remember that an owl symbolizes knowledge- which is a very important component in life.

Suzanne Ragonanan, Principal of Spring Village Hindu School, was in high praises of the initiative and commended the Bank, for visiting the school and coming involved in such a life changing event.

“We are very grateful to Republic Bank, this investment will always remain with these students for the rest of their lives. When they move on and others come, they too will benefit from this gesture,” she said.

Avril Orr- Johnson, Principal of St. Pius RC Primary School, was proud to announce that the school was named the Best School in the UNESCO initiative, thanks to Republic Bank.

“Our school received a trophy for the internal reading competition, and with this contribution, the students can spend more time reading and enhancing their reading skills in time for the next competition,” she said.

Republic Bank takes pride in partnering with UNESCO to offer to our nation’s students the gift of reading, as initiatives such as these help to make a positive difference in their lives, their families and in their communities.