Education first, says FirstCaribbean

The beneficiaries range in age, stage and gender, but the intent is to facilitate learning at any level. That is how the Country Manager of FirstCaribbean International Bank, Mauricia Thomas-Francis explained the thinking behind the bank’s recent donations towards the pursuit of education.
FirstCaribbean presented a cheque of EC$7000.00 to enable St. Lucian farmers, through the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) - to take advantage of a Farm Management Training Programme opportunity in Jamaica.
Hosted by Kevoy Community Development Institute, (KCDI) from Jamaica, the three day Farmers Sensitization Seminar has as a key output, the implementation of a rural Farm Management Training Programme in St Lucia. The programme is aimed at mobilizing St Lucian farmers, exposing them to both agricultural and environmental best practices along with training on how to run their farms as an agro-business enterprise.

The Farm Management Training will take place on 17-19 September 2008.
Ahead of the commencement of the new school year, FirstCaribbean stepped up to facilitate St. Joseph’s Convent in planning the temporary accommodations for new SJC entrants at the Girls Vocational School. The bank made the funds available for the purchase of one LG FM 8.5 cu ft refrigerator.
“We indeed hope that the SJC which has nurtured many of St. Lucia’s current leaders, will receive the same quick response and support from the corporate sector as well as past students who are endowed enough to respond in this hour of need.” Mrs. Francis said.
Following from damage sustained during the November 2007 earthquake, the form 1’s and 2’s of the Convent are being temporarily relocated to the Girls Vocational School, whilst the necessary repairs are carried out.