It should be well known by now that Unity of St Lucian UK Associations has for several years been bestowing its generosity on many and varied groups in Saint Lucia, whether education, culture, social welfare, health or charity based. The main fundraiser for their giving is held annually in London on February 22nd, the auspicious date of Saint Lucia’s Independence, in the form of a fundraising dance with entertainment by a chosen artist for that year, who has been flown up from Saint Lucia especially for that event.
This year, despite the fact that no such event could have been held due to the prevailing COVID restrictions, Unity was happy, following a proposal from Greenlights Youth Club, to partner with that entity in giving to an institution of their choosing, the lucky beneficiary for 2021 being the Saint Lucia School of Music.
To make this a reality, on Wednesday 3rd November, President of Unity, Felicia Hippolyte, currently visiting her homeland in her own capacity, assumed her official role and was on hand, along with her husband, to deliver a cheque for 1,000.00 pounds on behalf of Greenlights Youth Club, as well as that of her own Unity group.
School of Music Director, Richard Payne, expressed his great delight at the School having been chosen to receive such a gift which he assured would go towards purchasing musical instruments to enable greater numbers of at-risk youth to participate as members of the School’s Orchestra and Choir Project. He thanked the benefactors of both donor groups for their understanding of the immense power of music to transform the social landscape of Saint Lucia and hoped for a continuation of this important work in tandem with the School.