Local NGO takes Breast Cancer awareness to Primary Schools
While one hand cannot effectively clap, one outstretched hand can touch another in a remarkable way to positively impact the lives of many outstretched hands and hearts. This can be said of the bold initiative of young VIslander, Mrs Stephanie A. Brewley-George.
Mrs Brewley-George and her husband are the Founders and Managers of Little Speakers’ Touch Youth Empowerment Organisation. Their Office and Conference room are located in the Qwomar Trading Ltd. building.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month's observances have been blanketing the many corners of the Virgin Islands (VI), Mrs Brewley-George took on an initiative which saw monies being raised for the BVI Cancer Society, her organisation, as well as the particpiating schools.
It was part of last Friday’s ‘Pink it out’ initiative. “We are an organisation that requires money to keep our programmes going and so we came up with an idea that would see not just our organisation benefiting but one where through us the BVI Cancer Society and the schools benefiting.”
The organisation came up with the brilliant idea to produce and sell hundreds of T-Shirts to all the primary schools on Tortola. Only Joyce Samuels and Althea Scatliffe Primary Schools did not participate.
For every T-Shirt purchased, one dollar went towards the BVI Cancer Society. “For every T purchased at each school, a dollar went back to the school. What actually happened there is the BVI Cancer Society benefitted, the schools benefitted and we raised some funds for our organisation,” explained Mrs Brewley-George.
The end result saw her donating in excess of $500 to the BVI Cancer Society. “This was no easy go,” she said. It took her an entire day of running from school to school to ensure that the project was a success. “As much as I wanted to raise funds to support the work that we do, I am particularly happy that we were able to reach out and touch others at the same time. A little goes a far way.”
She also recalled the famous statement ‘hand wash hand makes hand come clean’.
One of the other benefits of the initiative, according to Ms Brewley-George, was the fact that through her project pupils were able to raise their level of awareness in the school environment. “Teachers would have done their part but wearing the Ts gives the pupils an opportunity to identify with the lessons taught by their teachers and I can well imagine it fuelled peer to peer discussions.”
First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said he could not do without commending Mrs Brewley-George and her husband for their initiative. “Stephanie is a person that has great potential and I must take this opportunity to compliment her for what she did. The act was in every way an un-selfish one and that is noteworthy,” said Hon. Fahie. He has pledge to support her in any way possible as a way of encouragement.
About of Little Speakers’ Touch Youth Empowerment Organisation
The organization led by Mr and Mrs George is only two years old but has managed to pull off some special programmes and projects.
“Our organization was started because I saw the need for children to better articulate themselves. Not just at a podium but in their daily activities, when presenting themselves for a job interview, when speaking to another, properly articulating themselves in every way,” she said.
Since its formation two years ago, the organisation has successfully hosted a few youth development programmes. The most recent was held on October 19, 2013 titles ‘I Am the Future’ (IATF) Boys Series. ‘Shape up’, for girls aged 10 to 18 years old, was the first programme that got off the ground during the Easter period of 2012 and continued in 2013.
“The overall objective of our organisation is to train young possibilities into mature capabilities,” stated Ms Brewley-George.
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