Digicel Guyana on Thursday unveiled its projects for  children’s August vacation  activities at Herdmanston Lodge, Lamaha Street, Georgetown. Collette Jones-Chin of Young @ Art, said that this year, thanks to Digicel sponsorship her August vacation programme is bigger and  orphans and other children will benefit significantly.
She noted that last year of 100 children, 65 were orphans and 88 graduated from sessions of art and drama.
This year, Jones-Chin stated cooking and sewing are new additions to her classes and will engage teenagers from 14-16 years.
She said that her school offers five activities but each child can only choose three and will run from July 9 to 27, 2012 and will end with a tea party and exhibition at the Red Cross building at Eve Leary.
Merle James, Coordinator of the Champion Reader’s Competition of the National Library, said that on June 15, 2011 the Annual Champion Readers’ Competition was launched after they got sponsorship from Digicel and this year they have received the same.
She added that the competition will begin in four categories in which participants must read six books in three segments and at the end they will have to make oral and written presentations  to the judges.
James pointed out that there will be five prizes which include money, trophies, books and certificates.
She stated that on January 2011 the Reading Club was also launched with the aim of promoting reading and takes place the third Wednesday of every month from 4pm to 5pm at the National Library.
James told the gathering that she is very pleased with the sponsorship from Digicel, since they were able to also launch the prison activity at four prisons across the country in which participants must read six books in an effort to improve their self-image and confidence and three prizes are up for the taking.
She said that the prisoners are expected to come to the city on August 31, 2012, when they will be judged and the winners will be selected from Timehri, Camp Street, New Amsterdam and Bartica Prisons.
Meanwhile, LouAnn Jackson, Artist at Work told reporters that she is hosting an art workshop for children on July 9 to 27, 2012 having had a successful one in 2010, to which the response was overwhelming; she is able to do so again thanks to Digicel.
She explained that in 2011, she used the Ministry of Culture building and children from Sophia and Tiger Bay were part of the classes.
Jackson added that presently registration is ongoing at Austin’s Book Service from July 9, 2012  Monday to Friday in which craft, textile and jewellery craft classes will engage children from ages 5-16 years old.
However, Digicel Guyana’s Sponsorship Manager, Gavin Hope, said that on July 18, 2012 the Zoo Camp will begin at the Botanical Gardens where children will get a chance to learn to fish and learn about the animals in the zoo for two weeks after which they will be presented a certificate of participation.