Building Tomorrow Through Child Development Programs
“To take children seriously is to value them for who they are right now rather than adults-in-the-making” – Alfie Kohn. Children are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the indications of a better today. The efforts and resources contributed towards making sure that they develop in a proper environment with the right tools will later contribute to who they are. These factors will speak to their state of mind and their ability to lead properly, while setting examples for the coming generations.
Range Developments has committed to supporting children and investing resources into the education of our young ones. Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to shape them and raise them to become empathetic, compassionate, and empowered adults. Through the various initiatives that we have, we will continue to assist and strengthen communities through the invaluable power of education.
In this fourth and last part of our Social Responsibility mini-series, let us look at some of the initiatives that we have championed over the years with a focus on the segment of ‘Children’.
Range School Fund: Here, at Range Developments, we firmly believe in giving back to our communities through the distribution of much-needed school supplies and equipment essential to learning. From 2017, we have made an effort each year to seek the needs of our local schools and provide the essentials in order to help our children continue their education. In 2017, three hundred students in Dominica were provided with the school equipment needed for learning. By gradually increasing our reach, in 2018, we were able to distribute school bags, notebooks, and fully-equipped pencil cases for one thousand students in Dominica.
Witnessing the incredible impact it had on the children’s motivation, we dedicated our efforts to improving the educational background for children, and in 2019, we provided school equipment for two thousand students. After 4 years from its formation, we are proud to see that Range’s ‘School Fund 2020’ has made its largest impact yet.
Studies have shown that students learn best when they are able to explore naturally through the act of playing. This is why in the year 2020, we have decided to put a little twist on the traditional school fund program and sourced a variety of educational toys, aspiring to develop skills through the act of play. Next to the educational essentials for two thousand children, we have provided ‘intelligent toys’, focused on memory training, development of motoric abilities, and development of strategic thinking. In addition, we have also provided a lot of sports equipment and several sports uniforms to promote healthy activities through outdoor games. We have also utilized tools focused on talent acquisition, including painting kits and musical instruments. Overall, 7,500 gifts were purchased for children ranging from 3 to 16 years of age in 2020, and we will continue to make a difference in the process of children’s learning and skills acquisition in the years to come.
Scholarships: In addition to providing funds for supplies and instructional materials, Range Developments regularly seeks to acknowledge the hard work of individual students and improve their lives through scholarships. Scholarships are a great way to encourage children to pursue their education. Since many families experience challenges with fees for their children’s school, scholarships also give them an opportunity to alleviate some of the stress caused by financial worries.
We have provided scholarships at various levels of education. For our primary school students, we created the “50 Academic Scholarships Program for Under-Privileged Students”. This scholarship provided one thousand dollars to fifty students so that they may continue their education. On the secondary level, Range created academic scholarships awarded to promising students who have shown great growth and determination at school.
A great example of this is the scholarship awarded to Christie Auguiste to support her studies at Orion Academy. Christie is an exceptional young lady from Dominica, who has many achievements under her belt at the tender age of 16. She was Dominica’s first Junior Minister of Tourism to hail from the Kalinago Territory. Christie also represented Dominica at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Tourism Youth Congress in the Bahamas. She has volunteered with Dominica’s Health & Wellness Association, hosted the International Yoga Day celebration, and provided valuable support as an intern at Ayahora Communities of Excellence Foundation. Completing her education at Orion Academy, Christie not only received an Honours at the graduation ceremony but also emerged as ‘Valedictorian of the Class 2020’. This is a wonderful example of the drive and motivation we look for when awarding fully-funded Range Scholarships.
Scholarships were also awarded to exceptional students of Hospitality and Law so that they can continue to pursue and excel in their chosen careers.
Summer Camps: For young people to become productive and successful members of society, having the right guidance, motivation, and support is key. Without these, the drive to turn dreams into reality fades, leaving young people despondent and without hope. This can eventually increase the risk of their venturing into the world of drugs and petty crime. Building confidence and self-esteem, and empowering the youth to be the best they can be is a huge undertaking – and this is precisely what we have been able to achieve through our Summer Camp initiatives.
Summer camps are the perfect way to continue the education and skills development of children while also providing them with a number of exciting competitions, team activities, fun games, and food in their bellies. This combination extends children’s learning within a fun environment while also shaping their minds in new ways and building their character. Every year, Range enables the organisation of Summer Camp Ezikiel through its ‘Range Community Center @Mount Carmel’, located on the island of St. Kitts. In addition, Range Developments has supported a variety of other summer camps, such as those held in Kachibona Academy in Dominica or at the Beach Allen Primary School in St Kitts.
The aim of these summer camps is to help kids cultivate positive relationships and self-confidence while imparting the core values of discipline, respect, responsibility, teamwork, and community. By fostering an environment of adventure and self-development, we have helped to equip 450 children thus far with firm foundation for their future success.
Junior Carnival: Carnivals are fun gatherings where people can enjoy their time together and bond while showcasing their creative side. The community in St. Kitts and Nevis enjoys its National Carnival from year-to-year. When it was discovered that the Junior Carnival couple of years back was deemed lacking, Range Developments stepped in to help with the organisation of the event and make the community of our youngest ones rejoice together once again. Range has put together a team of people to think through the process of planning the Junior Carnival. A vision, a committee, a budget, and a theme were all selected and determined to help make the Junior Carnival successful, more developed, and better organised.
For children to effectively learn and grow, they must feel loved, cared for, and supported. Range Developments recognizes the importance of providing students with an environment conducive to learning, and our team is dedicated to providing a well-rounded foundation so that they are truly set up for success. As John F. Kennedy once stated, “children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” Our children are our world’s future, and what better way is there to invest in our future than to invest in our children?