On Tuesday, April 20th, 2021 a “Recommissioning Ceremony” was held at the West End Community Development Centre to commemorate the official reopening of the West End Community Development Centre and the upgrading of the West End Hurricane Shelter to function as an Emergency shelter.
The Anguilla Red Cross (ARC) is pleased to have facilitated this process through the sponsorship of this initiative. ARC collaborated with the Department of Education and the Department of Youth and Culture to renovate the Centre to ensure that it was restored to full capacity thereby being able to serve the Community of West End to ensure that they remain resilient.
The Centre provides the youth of the community with an avenue for positive self-expression, and it offers several programmes and courses which can aid in their personal development. The Centre, which is located at the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School, was initially opened in January 2016 but was decommissioned due to mould.
Development Centre
Through the Caribbean Resilience Programme the ARC contributed approximately US$10,000 to facilitate the repairs and restoration of the Centre. This project was identified by the ARC as critical since it represented a valuable asset to the Community to foster knowledge sharing as a staple part of the West End Community and to benefit the youth and the Community at large. As such, the ARC viewed the renovation of the Centre as a priority and welcomed the opportunity to extend its support to the worthy cause.
The renovations were undertaken by LINKUS, a local and reputable construction firm. The team worked diligently to complete the project within a few weeks so that the Centre could be re-commissioned in a timely manner.
The recommissioning ceremony commenced with opening remarks by Mrs Kerniel Chung, Centre Manager, followed by brief remarks by the Director of the Anguilla Red Cross, Mrs. Latoya Hobbs Nurse. Mrs. Hobbs Nurse stated that ARC was happy to have partnered with the people of the West End Community to ensure that they remain resilient. The Chairman of the ARC, Mr. Andre Collins joined the Director in saying that the ARC was pleased to be a part of the initiative and he anticipates that the ARC will partner with the Government in other ventures. Ms. Avon Carty, Director at the Department of Youth and Culture, expressed her gratitude to the Anguilla Red Cross for funding the initiative. She commended Mrs. Chung and Mr. Cleve Whyte, Community Support Officer of the ARC, for their determination and dedication in completing the project.
The West End Community Development Centre is open from 9am to 5pm. Youth from Kindergarten up to 6th form level can receive support in various subject areas at no cost. For more information on the programmes available and the registration process, contact the Centre Manager at 772-6928.
– Press Release
