Inter-Generational Exchange in St. Pauls and Cayon

Cayon Primary School

Basseterre, St. Kitts, 29th July 2013: With financing from the Australian Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, the Department of Social Services and Community Development in conjunction with the St. Paul’s and Cayon Primary Schools and the Golden Years Clubs of St. Paul’s and Cayon has begun implementation of an Inter-Generational Project.

The aim of the project is to provide a safe after-school environment for students of the St. Pauls and Cayon Primary Schools where interested students will gather to interact and learn from senior citizens in their respective communities in an effort to promote independence amongst children.

The project is designed to provide a safe and secure after-school meeting space for children between the ages of 8 – 12 to learn skills set necessary for independent living. Additionally, by providing an opportunity for senior citizens to impart these skills to the children, this project will provide active ageing activities for seniors to be engaged in.

St. Paul’s Primary School

At the St. Paul’s Primary School, that phase of the project commenced on Monday 03rd June 2013. Teacher contact Ms. Averil Gumbs stated that she is excited about the program and especially the children. The children have been expressing their excitement as they have been extending the training period which was originally set for 4:30 – 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

At the Cayon Primary School, that phase of the project commenced on Thursday June 13th 2013. The principal of the Cayon Primary School, Ms. Marva Buchanan stated that she thinks it is a really good program since there has been the absence of an afterschool program at the school. This program being about socialization and the use of creativity as opposed to academics will bring out the best in the children. She is particularly excited about the products that will be created for the Display for Independence. These classes are set to run from 3:30 – 4:30 pm at the Cayon Primary School.

The project is designed to run for a six (6) month period in the first instance and will feature a display for the 30th Independence Activities.