THE Rotary Club of New Amsterdam has taken the initiative to improve the literacy level of students in Berbice.

Through its Vocational Service Department, it has donated 24 boxes of books worth $500,000 to four primary schools, as part of a Book Distribution Project in the East Canje area.
The beneficiary institutions are Fort Ordinance, Betsy Ground, Cumberland and Rose Hall Estate primaries and the donation is the first stage of a planned ongoing drive by the donor to put more books in the schools and enhance the literacy levels of schoolchildren.
The latest venture by the club will benefit some 2000 students in the four schools and the handing over was done at the Hand in Hand Insurance Company building, New Street, New Amsterdam.
Speaking on the occasion, Club President Rabindranauth Sookraj said the books will cover most of the basic subjects that are taught in schools and help the pupils do more in-depth reading.
Some of the subject areas covered include Mathematics, Science, English, Phonics, Reading, Social Studies, History and Geography.
“From the distribution, each school will receive over 400 books.” Sookraj stated.
Immediate Past President of the club, Tajepaul Adjodhea also emphasised their interest in children and the importance of reading.
He, too, lamented the lack of interest in reading by the youths of today and hoped the injection of the books will be the start of a renewed focus on the activity among the youths in general.
The books were sourced from the United States (U.S.) through the kind assistance of Rotarians in that country, with the help of another non- governmental organisation (NGO), the Sherling Guy Care on the Corentyne.
Two containers of books have, so far, been acquired for disbursement to schoolchildren in the East Berbice/Corentyne region.
Nursery schools in the New Amsterdam/Canje District, as well as primary and secondary schools in the area will be targeted next as the project continues.

In attendance
Senior Mistress of Fort Ordinance Primary, Francesca Johnson; IT Teacher Bibi Safi of Rose Hall Estate Primary; Miguel Johnson, assistant master of Cumberland Primary and Nalini Carmichael, senior mistress of Betsy Ground Primary were among the teachers in attendance.
On behalf of the recipients, Ms. Carmichael expressed  thanks also on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the various schools and teachers.
She acknowledged that the books could go a long way in helping the students with their reading, noting that most of the schools have established or are in the process of establishing libraries.
Carmichael said the books will come in handy because the children are going to read and educate themselves. It will help to educate the children more and they will read more.
Some of the students to benefit also stated their appreciation for the gesture.
The Rotary Club paid for  transporting  of the books to Berbice and to the various schools.