Religious organisation sponsors school supplies for 500 students

RADHICA DE SILVA

Senior Multimedia Reporter

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Ahead of the school term, five hundred children received school supplies as the group Paying It Forward for Jesus Inc held a Children’s Fair and Back-to-School Giveaway in Penal on Friday.

Speaking to Guardian Media, event organiser Shelene Kissoon said apart from school supplies, children also received toys.

She said the non-profit organisation operates in Pakistan, Kenya, Trinidad, and New York.

Kissoon, who grew up in Penal, said children received copy books, folders, pencils, erasers, rulers, and crayons. “This year, we cut down a little because of cost,” Kissoon admitted.

Expressing joy at the distribution, Kissoon said the event had its “second biggest turnout” and that the state of the economy may have contributed.

“There are a lot of parents who are not working,” she said. “They look forward to it and I realised that even when I did not post it, people were calling and asking whether we were having the giveaway this year,” she said.

Volunteer Narissa Rambaran said she too, felt joyous upon seeing the children’s faces.

“We have backpacks with stationery. We have snacks, hot dogs. We have ice cream. We do face painting, popcorn and eye tests. The children are very excited. We want to urge them to obey their parents and teachers and, of course, to pray and put God at the centre of their lives,” she added.

Meanwhile, Councillor for Quinam Mon Diablo Sarah Sookdeo said Penal Rock Road was one of the more underprivileged areas, and the demand for support was high.

“We were unable to assist at such a widespread venture, and thankfully, this group brought the much-needed relief that my burgesses of Penal, Mon Diablo needed,” she said.