THE CRICKET teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) last Thursday launched their Multi-Million-Dollar E-Networks Pro-Education Programme for this year with donations of $250 000 worth of children’s story and educational books to the Port Mourant St Francis Xavier and the New Amsterdam Church of Ascension Roman Catholic Churches.

The donations would assist the St Francis Xavier Church to establish a mini library for youths, while the Church of Ascension would add their books to an already established library. Each church also received a Notice board from the Club.
Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, who presented the items, stated that the cricket teams would be placing special emphasis on the importance of reading in its 2014 E-Networks Pro-Education campaign, with books also being donated to several nursery and secondary schools in Berbice while several cricket clubs would also receive assistance towards the establishment of mini libraries for their members.
Foster noted that reading enables the mind to develop and allows individuals to form ideas quickly and while noting that reading is his favourite hobby, he urged the younger generation to develop a culture of research; studying and reading pointing out that this would lead them to successful careers.
The Club strongly believes that Education is the key to success and the veteran cricket administrator issued an appeal for all young sportsmen and women to place emphasis on education and not to forsake it entirely for success in sports.
RHTY&SC, Foster disclosed would be working together with the Berbice Cricket Board to establish mini libraries at the Bath and Blairmont Community Centres, Young Warriors, Chesney, Whim and Edinburgh Cricket Clubs in an effort to get young players to develop a culture of reading.
Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-12 and First Division Teams, under their Pro-Education Programme for 2014 would be sharing out educational kits – school bags, school uniforms and other materials to less fortunate students;. Donations to several schools; hosting television programmes; providing educational scholarships; evening classes and the annual Republic Bank Summer Camp, among other projects, are also on the cards for this year.
President of the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Club, Andrew Smartt, expressed gratitude to the teams of the Club and pledged that the mini library would be opened to church members and youths immediately.
The role that was played by the Club and Secretary/CEO Foster in the resuscitation of the St Francis Youth Club came in for high praise by Smartt as well as their role in the investing in the activities of the Port Mourant Catholic Church and he wished the Management and players a successful year on and off the field.