The Melissa Skerrit Foundation hosted the most anticipated annual event among the students of Roseau Central Constituency, Back to School Program. During this 11th annual Back-to-School handover ceremony, Minister Melissa Skerrit handed over essential school supplies to the deserving students and extended best wishes for the upcoming session after the summer vacation.
The Back to School program is an annual ceremony that Minister of Housing, Land & Urban Development, Melissa Skerrit organizes under her foundation and spreads happiness among the students and motivate them to do better in academics as well as sports.
This year marked the 11th Back to School ceremony and it was held at the Peebles Park over the weekend. Hundreds of school goers attended the ceremony along with their parents and families.
This time Melissa Skerrit, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central Constituency distributed the school bags which were filled with supplies that the students will be able to use during their academic session 2024-25.
She also presented the awards to the National Assessment and CXC achievers, followed by Tuition assistance to the deserving students who performed exceptionally well during their last academic session.
It is to be noted that the Melissa Skerrit Foundation is the brainchild of Melissa Skerrit who is Minister herself and wife of Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit and under her guidance the foundation has been running several successful programs.
The ongoing programs are Elderly Assistance Program, School Feeding Program, Mother and Baby Program and this Adopt a Child Back to School program.
Melissa Skerrit, while addressing the guests, children, parents and teachers present on the ceremony shared that she is proud to celebrate the 11th year of the Adopted Child Back to School program. She shared that this initiative began with a vision to support the public and raise a source of hope.
Further Minister Melissa shared that her purpose is to give back to the community at every opportunity.
Sharing her journey of Philanthropy she narrated, “I began giving back to the people about 15 years ago behind the scenes in Roseau, specifically targeting single parents, and then I focused my efforts also in the north of the island by doing complete set up of preschools.”
Motivating the children to aim for the sun, the moon and the stars Minister Melissa shared that this means that you are striving for goals which yourself don’t even believe that you can achieve.
Further Melissa Skerrit blessed all the children by sharing cards with a message noted on it stating, “Wishing you a first day of school filled with excitement, new adventures and knowledge that lasts a lifetime.”
Melissa ended her address by noting, “Have a successful and enlightening academic year to all of Dominica’s young scholars!!!”
Further, Minister Melissa also shared the glimpse of the ceremony on her official Facebook page, in which the children can be witnessed playing, enjoying the games, the food and most importantly receiving the goodies from Minister Melissa with a smile.
She mentioned, “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.”
The parents and the children were also seen interacting with Minister Melissa Skerrit and were sharing their daily routine and how the little ones trouble their mothers, in response Minister Melissa shared her own experience with the mothers.
