(St. Christopher National Trust) St. Kitts and Nevis – July 13, 2017: Following on the generosity of Caribelle Batik owner, Maurice Widdowson, others have pledged to cover the cost of registration for children wanting to attend the National Trust’s Dasani-Harper’s Heritage House Storytelling Series.
Last Friday (July 7th) Mr. Widdowson generously offered to pay the registration fee for 25 children for the first two sessions.
“I think it is a marvelous initiative,” Mr. Widdowson said of the storytelling series, which got underway on Saturday, July 8th.
After word began to spread about his donation, two other individuals and the Department of Youth Empowerment came forward and committed to sponsoring additional sessions.
This is exactly what Widdowson had hoped for.
“I just want all children to have the opportunity to attend. I hope that other companies will come forward and sponsor a future session,” he had said, last week.
Designed for children aged 6-12 years old, Heritage House features stories about Marcus of the Woods, Betto Douglas, Chee Chee the monkey and his great adventures and many more.
“I think a lot of our children don’t read books anymore and perhaps parents don’t have time to read to their children anymore,” Mr. Widdowson told the Trust.
“I recognize that the museum is walking distance from both Irish Town and Newtown. Within those communities there may well be several single mums to whom $10 per session is a tough option. I didn’t want any kids to be marginalized.”
Storytellers include Creighton Pencheon, the ‘Turtle Doctor’ Dr. Kimberley Stewart, the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Shawn Richards and the Governor General himself His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, QC, JP. There is even a session where participants will create their own story.
On the first day of the series, last Saturday, National Trust President Schneidman Warner regaled the children with a story about a Kalingo boy who witnessed the arrival to St. Kitts of the first Europeans. Complied by National Archivist Vicky O’Flaherty, Mr. Warner brought the story to life engaging the children with probing questions about their thoughts of what it might be like to have lived in St. Kitts at that time.
“The Trust’s initiative is brilliant and the speakers may well give lasting memories to the kids. Imagine being in the company of our fully regaled Governor General. My goodness Sir Tapley is impressive enough without the trappings! It will be awesome for the kids,” Widdowson enthused.
Thanks to Mr. Widdowson’s donation, this coming Saturday’s session (July 15th) is absolutely free! Our guest reader is entrepreneur Troy “Spuddy” Hendrickson.
Next weekend, July 22nd, the Honourable Shawn Richards will try his hand at story-telling.
The Trust will make weekly announcements about upcoming guest-readers and free sessions.
The series runs on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – 11:00 until August 26th!
Parents and Guardians can either call or email the Trust to register their child. Call 465-5584/662-5548 or email admin@stchristophernationaltrust.kn
