The Welfare Association of the Royal Anguilla Police Force has donated two sewing machines to the Department of Social Development for use in its 2012 Summer Sewing Programme.
“This is part of our outreach in giving back to our community to assist with the development of young people,” Mr. Rudolph Proctor stated in making the presentation to Commissioner of Social Development, Sanford Richardson, on Wednesday. “This is a process that the Royal Anguilla Police Force would want to continue. It demonstrates the aim of the Police to work with departments and other stakeholders in the Anguillian community to chart a better course for the development of our youth.”
Replying, Mr. Richardson said his department was happy with its partnership with the Police. “This particular initiative is one of many geared towards poverty alleviation, and it is all about skill development and capacity building for those persons we are assisting. The programme is geared to helping children to help themselves and to focus on making their school uniforms. Later, over the years, they will be able to sew for themselves and for other children. It can therefore become an income-generating activity.”
The Summer Sewing Programme is being run by the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Anguilla Development Board and the Anguilla National Creative Arts Association.
The sewing classes commenced on Monday, July 9, at Campus A of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. The teaching sessions are being held on Mondays to Fridays under the instruction of Mrs. Janis Elijah of Crocus Hill.
The training will conclude on August 3 with a display of garments at the closing ceremony.
The sewing programme was introduced by the Anguilla National Creative Arts Association and the Anguilla Development Board eleven years ago. The Department of Social Development entered the partnership in 2009 and focused on the preparation of school uniforms with a view to improving self-reliance among the participants.
