The Maria Holder Memorial Trust has furthered its commitment to supporting special needs education in Saint Lucia by donating a second specially equipped school bus. This latest contribution aims to improve transportation options for students with disabilities, ensuring they have reliable access to educational facilities.
The first bus, delivered in 2023, serves pupils at the Dennery Childhood Development Centre. The newly donated vehicle, equipped with wheelchair accessibility and other necessary accommodations, will be stationed at the Donato School, an institution dedicated to special education.
Minister for Education Shawn Edward expressed his support for the initiative, highlighting the importance of ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education. He also praised the Maria Holder Memorial Trust for retrofitting the bus, noting that the total cost of procuring and equipping the vehicle was approximately $425,000.
Peter Symmonds, Trustee at the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, emphasized that transportation should never be a barrier to education, stating, “Lack of transportation, in my view, should never be a determining factor in whether a child is able to attend school.” This donation reflects the Trust’s ongoing commitment to removing obstacles and enhancing educational opportunities for children with disabilities.
The Maria Holder Memorial Trust, established in memory of Maria Holder, has a history of supporting educational initiatives across the Caribbean. In 2019, the Trust refurbished and rebuilt six primary schools in Dominica that suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017, demonstrating its dedication to educational development and disaster recovery efforts.