Digicel’s Caring Connections Gives Away another $10,000

The National Council of & for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) receives $10,000 cash to support their Camp LaJwa initiative.

June 27, 2012: Persons with Special Needs continues to be the focus of an initiative of the Digicel Caring Connections 2012 programme in association with like-minded partners across the country. The Caring Connections Programme was successfully launched in November 2011 and continues to present cash to winning project ideas. The second Digicel grant was presented to The National Council of & for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) in the amount of EC$10,000.00.

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) is a non-governmental social service organization dedicated to advocating for and serving the needs of St. Lucia’s disabled community.  Each year the NCPD organizes Camp LaJwa, a summer camp for youth with disabilities which takes place both in the north and south of the island. The focus of the camp is especially for children who are home-bound due to their disability and do not have the opportunity to interact with others their age or attend the same social events and activities. 

While at the camp the children take part in games, arts and crafts, physiotherapy and various other activities designed to increase their independence, foster their individuality and growth, and create a network of support among their peers, families and community.  Camp LaJwa also serves to provide respite care for the parents of children with disabilities as sometimes taking care of children with disabilities can be very taxing for even the most patient and loving caregiver.  In addition Camp LaJwa serves to sensitize the community in general to the realities of living with a disability

 “Special Needs continues to be the focus of Digicel since the inception,” said Kerchelle Jn Charles, Marketing Manager Digicel St Lucia, “since the launch of the Caring Connections programme, project ideas continue to pour in and Digicel is happy to fund the NCPD for their Camp Lajwa project.” Ms. Jn Charles also added, “Digicel is devoted to supporting and encouraging the social and educational growth of kids with special needs. Bravo NCPD”

According to Krishna Valcin, member of NCPD, “We at NCPD feel that Camp LaJwa is a project that is focused on serving persons, it also focuses on sensitization and encourages community cohesiveness and empowerment especially kids with special needs and we thank Digicel for supporting this venture.”

Digicel is urging the St. Lucian public to make submissions for projects they consider worthy of support and funding or who are seeking continued support for a project already ongoing. For more information on the Digicel Caring Connections Programme visit www.digicelstlucia.com or send an email to caring.connections@digicelgroup.com

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL

After 11 years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has over 12.8 million customers across its 30 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean. 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.

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