Staff of Al’s Marine Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Services Limited with students and principal of Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre on January 24, 2020. Photo: Team of Reporters

From left: Ms Tracey Graham, Mr Francis Primo, Ms Vansittart C. C. Huggins, Mr Almo George (Owner/Director of Al’s Marine Ltd) and Ms Andrea Williams at the presentation of educational supplies to Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre on January 24, 2020. Photo: Team of Reporters

“He’s always passionate about kids and loves them and decided to do something special and meaningful for the children in the community. One day he his heart just told him to give back to the kids at that particular school, Al’s Marine Ltd disclosed to Virgin Islands News Online about the kind gesture by its owner and director, Mr George.

The presentation was made on January 24, 2020 by Mr George and some members of staff to the teachers and children of the learning centre.

‘Everyone’s education is important’

The company said management also felt it was important to reach out to the centre because everyone’s education is important and everyone helps shape the future of the community.

Staff members of Al’s Marine Ltd were encouraged to support the gesture and willingly donated to the cause.

“It is something he is planning to grow every year and give back to more and more kids. He wanted the staff to be a part of it as well so they also chipped with donations so they could have witnessed the smiles on the kids’ faces, how much appreciation they showed. It’s like they give you another reason to keep pushing and another gear to keep driving for the bigger goal in life and that is to always give back to your community and be our brothers and sisters' keeper.”

‘We applaud stakeholders like Al’s Marine’- Principal Huggins

Appreciation was expressed by Principal of Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, Ms Vansittart C. C. Huggins.

“We express our gratitude to the company. We are using the manipulative for students' learning. We applaud stakeholders like Al’s Marine who show interest in special education and act upon that interest,” Ms Huggins told Virgin Islands News Online.

Formerly the Fort Charlotte Children’s Centre, the institution for the differently abled was established on October 12, 1972 by the BVI Red Cross under the leadership of the wife of then Governor, D. G. Cudmore.

In 1997, the centre relocated to John’s Hole in one of the government’s residential houses and on March 13, 1998, Fort Charlotte Children’s Centre was officially renamed Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre in honour of its first principal.

Today, the centre is operating at Althea Scatliffe Primary School as a result of damage to its building from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.