Located in the rural village of Rampanalgas in northeast Trinidad is the Rampanalgas St Anthony Roman Catholic Primary School. The school compound is also where community events and meetings take place. Students come from low-income families who were significantly impacted by a loss of income due to the pandemic. Prior to this intervention, the school had a library and computer room with obsolete materials and equipment but such facilities in public schools were not upgraded or refurbished.
The Rotary Club of Maraval partnered with a local NGO, Let's Read, which has been the primary partner for re-establishing the library space. This partnership includes sourcing age- appropriate, high-quality books, including those by local & regional Caribbean authors, which is more relatable to them, and digital resources. This space has become a place where all students feel welcomed and they are encouraged to grow and learn.
Opportunities for teacher professional development was provided by Let’s Read so this initiative has led to an improvement in teachers’ skills that can then boost student outcomes. With a world that is becoming more digital, this Centre is designed to equip the teachers with pedagogical approaches to incorporating tech with traditional learning methods. The Centre also provides accessibility of these resources to serve the wider community.
Interestingly, with a library, the school can apply to the Ministry of Education to have a librarian assigned to their school. An assigned librarian will be an excellent added resource to the school.