GRAND CAYMAN (GIS) – Maple House residents had 55 reasons to be pleased by their visitors: the (LIFE) Literacy Is For Everyone charity on Monday (5 September 2018).

The Cayman Islands only literacy charity donated a box full of lightly-used picture books to the home’s special needs children and young adults.

The presentation, on the run up to International Literacy Day on Saturday, 8 September, was made by the organisation’s Executive Director Marilyn Conolly, in the presence of the Ministry of Community Affairs Chief Officer Teresa Echenique, along with Residential Care Supervisor Thelma Richards, Maple House staff and residents.

“We are delighted to mark this annual observance by sharing the gift of reading and imagination with Maple House residents through the pages of these books,” said Ms Conolly.

“The theme of this year’s International Literacy Day is ‘Literacy and skills development’. This ties in well with this particular donation, as all too often, the needs of the most vulnerable and disabled members of our community are forgotten, ignored, dismissed or simply not valued. LIFE is of the view that all members of society have a right to literacy and everyone can share in the joy of reading a good story.”

Ms Echenique thanked the visitors to the George Town home on behalf of her Ministry and assured the charity that the books were a welcome resource.

“I cannot overstress the importance of education in the development of our children and that is even more important when it comes to children with special needs. Maple House residents will relish this donation of books,” she remarked. “The residential home’s staff are carers in the very truest sense and enjoy both reading to them and sharing in their pleasure in the stories and characters.”

In partnership with the government LIFE undertakes several programmes to increase literacy levels in the government school system, as well as focusing on bringing literacy to the home and the community.

For further information about the work of LIFE and how members of the public can volunteer in the charity’s literacy programmes, call 938-6300 or visit www.life.org.ky