Angela Burnette-Penn takes ‘Irma Diaries’ to schools. Photo: Team of Reporters

Irma Diaries author, Ms Angela Burnette-Penn, today November 13, 2018, donated over 250 copies of her book to schools across the Territory, as part of her ‘Read to Heal School Programme.’ Photo: Team of Reporters

Ms Burnett Penn has since partnered with various businesses from the private sector and officially launched the programme at the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School.

In her remarks at the launch she said the programme is designed to bring the book into schools to share its important life lessons, help heal the lingering trauma from hurricane Irma and to also educate students about Climate Change in a very personal way.

School Curriculum

 “The books will be available to students at their school libraries and available for integration into classroom activities and the programme will be supported by in-class readings and discussions hosted by survivors,” she said.

Ms Burnett Penn noted too that she looks forward to seeing the book forming part of the formal school curriculum, so that this important part of the Virgin Island’s (VI) history and its lessons could be preserved through the generations.

Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies student, Kais Masson read an excerpt from Mr Albert Wheatley’s survivor story captured in the book.

Mr Wheatley’s story stressed the importance of building more resiliently, for the stronger hurricanes that will be experienced in the future as a result of Climate Change.