Long-time volunteers and non-profit organisations working across Saint Lucian communities say the needs of parents preparing to send their children back to school have not only increased but have become more complex.
Some argue that traditional donations of backpacks and books are no longer sufficient.
Dianne Felicien, founder and CEO of the Do-Nation Foundation, says that from her vantage point, working to advance community development, the situation might be more dire than many realise.
“Every year, we think we’ve seen the peak, and somehow, it gets harder for families,” Felicien told St Lucia Times.
“Inflation, job instability, and the rising cost of living are making it really difficult for parents to prepare their children for the school year.”
Nova Alexander, executive director of the Sacred Sports Foundation (SSF) Inc., shares the same view. The SSF designs programmes and collaborates with grassroots groups to support at-risk and disadvantaged youth.
“Having worked in the non-profit sector for 17 years, I can say with confidence that the needs of families, particularly low-income and marginalised households, are becoming more acute,” Alexander said.
She believes the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point after which preexisting inequities deepened.
“Parents are now having to navigate complex social and economic realities,” she said.
Felicien and Alexander report an uptick in requests for basic school supplies, uniforms, shoes, transportation and lunch assistance. But according to Felicien, these are no longer isolated or seasonal appeals.
“People are overwhelmed, and some are even reaching out asking for emotional support because the financial strain is affecting their mental health, too.”
Alexander adds that food insecurity remains a significant concern, with many parents relying heavily on school feeding programmes.
The need for psychosocial support is also growing, particularly in densely populated communities, where Alexander has observed increasing signs of emotional and psychological distress among children.
“Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a noticeable uptick in the need for access to counselling, social work, and safe spaces,” she said. “Parents are asking for more help to support children experiencing various forms of trauma —ranging from verbal and physical abuse to issues related to isolation and anxiety.”
Families and educators are also calling for more tailored support for children with special needs, an area she says requires more sustained attention.
According to Felicien and Alexander, addressing these needs requires more than charitable donations or stopgap solutions.
It demands a holistic, long-term approach.
“One of the most telling insights from our consultations with over 400 parents and community partners is this: basic support systems remain essential, but they are no longer enough on their own,” Alexander said. “Families are asking for holistic, multidimensional support—services that nurture the body, mind, and spirit of their children.”
She added, “In many ways, the school backpack of today doesn’t just need to be filled with notebooks and pens; it also needs to carry food, emotional support, access to therapy, and a sense of safety.
That’s the real back-to-school reality for many families in Saint Lucia today.”
I am not certain how the St. Lucian system collaborates with the various non profit organizations who provide assistance to St. Lucia educational school systems. However, I know of a particular group who has been making impact for the past several years in St. Lucia. This group (which includes professionals) travel annually to St. Lucia from several areas within the United States – some are from as far as Atlanta, Florida, South Carolina, PA, New York etc. They are all volunteers who give up of their finances, vacation and service to help unselfishly in St. Lucia.
As of the writing of this email – they are currently on island working a summer enrichment program with a specific school This group is called Pyramid Youth Incentive Inc. Their Executive Director holds a Masters Degree in Youth Development and is extremely passionate about helping, especially youth.
Part of their missions is clearly evident in the words of the following poet:
Many things we need can wait, Children cannot!!!
Now is the time when their bones are being formed,
Their blood is being made, their minds are being developed.
To them we cannot say tomorrow, Their name is today.
Gabriella Mistral, Chilean poet
Reposting —-
“Every year, we think we’ve seen the peak, and somehow, it gets harder for families,” Felicien told St Lucia Times.
“Inflation, job instability, and the rising cost of living are making it really difficult for parents to prepare their children for the school year.”
Instead of providing carnival loans – how about “Back to School Loans” – you see folk in St. Lucia need to put their priorities in order. Granted it is difficult in St. Lucia — however the cost of living current affects the whole world – no one is exempt. So folk need to stop saying “things hard in St. Lucia” – yet still they jump carnival, attend every jazz concert and every carnival show with new outfits — and pay hundreds for tickets…smh