The Melissa Skerrit Foundation’s annual “Back-to-School Program” helped the Roseau Central Constituency students prepare for the upcoming 2024–2025 academic year as summer vacation ended. This program aims to help students succeed academically and helps families ease their financial burden by providing all the necessary things for children’s education.
The annual Back to School Program was held on Saturday, August 31, at Peebles Park in Roseau. It is not just limited to the Roseau Central constituency but also includes other villages across Dominica for various grade levels and schools. Over 276 backpacks filled with all the essential school supplies were distributed among the students by the Foundation led by Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, Member of Parliament for the Roseau Central Constituency.
The students were encouraged to believe in themselves, dream big, and embrace the positive opportunities to stay focused and achieve great things. This year’s event was particularly noteworthy as it honoured top performers from the Roseau Central Constituency who excelled in the Grade Six National Assessment and CSEC examinations. Milagro Deluge was appreciated for her exceptional performance at the CXC Examination, and Kitara Beaupierre for her excellence in the Grade Six National Assessment.
The Melissa Skerrit Foundation, now in its 11th year, continues to make a great impact through various community initiatives that include elderly assistance, school feeding, and mother-and-baby programs. The Foundation’s mission is its commitment to education. The “Back-to-School Program” provides not only temporary support but also offers students donations, scholarships, tuition and all sorts of educational assistance to thousands of students.
It continues to support families in Dominica, making sure that students are empowered and motivated to pursue their educational goals. With each passing year, the Program grows in impact, thanks to the commitment of Melissa Poponne-Skerrit and her team and the many supporters who believe in the power of education to shape the future. The People’s Republic of China, the Government of Dominica, members of the Dominica community, and other locals all sponsor the Melissa Skerrit Foundation.
Minister Octavia Alfred supports the Melissa Skerrit Foundation’s vision for quality education and emphasises the value of partnerships in achieving this goal. This Foundation was founded in December 2016 and works to improve the lives of students and Dominicans in general.
Melissa Poponne-Skerrit also shared a heartfelt message on her social media account expressing her gratitude to all the people who were part of this event, stating, “As we come to the end of the summer vacation, I try my best to help where I can for our future generations’ upcoming academic year. Thank you to all of my team and the many supporters who help make this Back to School Program happen each year! I am so proud of our nation’s beautiful young minds and will continue to do my small part in helping them on their journey to greatness!”
