Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 09, 2017 (SKNIS): A total of 396 goods, including children items, gift sets, male and female clothing, sporting equipment, household items and stationery among other things were donated to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to be distributed to charity and faith-based institutions, hospitals and daycare centers, as well as other organizations in an effort to meaningfully benefit a number of persons.
The items were donated by the SimplyHelp Foundation based in Los Angeles, United States of America. They were accepted during a handing over ceremony at the Customs Conference Room on Thursday, March 09, by the Honourable Shawn Richards, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education on behalf of the government and by extension the various organizations and persons who will benefit from the donations.
Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency George Gow Wei Chiou, said that SimplyHelp Foundation is dedicated to assist persons living in poverty by providing emergency disaster relief, vocational training, shelter and care for the homeless.
“Their efforts not only demonstrate the Taiwanese NGOs important role as a provider of humanitarian aids, but also convey the empathy and friendship of the Taiwanese people,” said the ambassador. “Today’s donation is a symbolic and meaningful gesture, as it signifies the bilateral and close relations between our two countries and also represent the perpetual close cooperation and enduring friendship between our peoples. This kind of partnership is a wonderful example that our partner countries and NGOs can work together to help to minimize the effects of poverty by building capacity through early interventions.”
Ambassador Chiou said that this is the third consecutive year for St. Kitts and Nevis to receive the donations from the foundation.
Minister Richards said that the items will benefit children, in particular, as many mothers in the federation are single mothers who do not have the support from the fathers of the children or other persons in society. He said that such persons will be thankful for the items.
“The fact is that we have many vulnerable persons with the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and I am certain that these items will go a very long way in bringing much needed relief to these persons,” said the minister of education, adding that the Early Childhood Development Unit will benefit significantly. “Some of these items will indeed go a long way not only in relieving the financial burden on their own parents but also in bringing comfort to the very same children. Whether it is providing them with education materials or providing them with clothing that they can use to wear to school, these items will make a difference not just today, in the lives of these children”
The education minister said that the impact that the items will make on the recipients future development is one that cannot truly be measured. He extended thanks to the donors and the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for their continued support.
The SimplyHelp Foundation was formed in 2000 and is active in 23 countries with a strong presence in Central America and South East Asia. In the past 18 years, the organization has provided hundreds of containers of donation to the disadvantaged people in Asia, Africa and Central and South America. The organization obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2005. This means that the UN ECOSOC has opened the door for consultation with SimplyHelp. Every year, representatives of the SimplyHelp Foundation attend UN conferences. Twice a year, the SimplyHelp Foundation selects young ambassadors to have the unique opportunity of attending the UN conferences in New York or abroad.
