PUPILS from four primary schools and students from one secondary school in West Coast Berbice were, during the week, happy recipients of packages of gifts containing  books,  backpacks  and sports equipment  among other items,  courtesy of the Guyana America Faith Partners (GAFP) Inc., a US- based charitable organisation.

The beneficiaries were children from Belladrum, Lichfield,Number 29 and Lachmansingh Primary Schools, and Fort Wellington  Secondary.
The gifts were handed over during visits to the schools by  GAFP International Secretary, Ms Dixie Peters, and Secretary of the local chapter, Mr Abraham David on Tuesday and Wednesday last.
David disclosed that the total value of the items which were  procured by the GAFP branch in  the US was approximately  US$5,000.
According to David, the GAFP, which was established in 2007, had been making donations regularly to the Number 29 and Belladrum schools mainly  since its formation,  and in the case of the Number 29 school, even before.
The inclusion of the three other schools represented an expansion of its charitable acts  to  schools in West Coast Berbice.
The GAFP was formed in the USA  by Mrs. Cecily Peters, daughter of former Head-teacher of the Number 29 Village Primary School, in West Berbice, Mr. Jordan.
Mr. Jordan taught at the Number 29 Primary School for several years,  and the donations started as tokens  of support to this school before the donors decided to expand their largesse to the  Belladrum Primary School, and now subsequently three other educational  institutions on the West Coast of Berbice, David said.
He said that the gifts were well received by both teachers and pupils,all of whom expressed appreciation for the support which they represented.