UPTON Girls Gardens Centre last week played host to members of the Catholic Heart Workcamp out of the United States of America.
The group has been partnering with several agencies around the island to build homes, teach arts and crafts to children, and assist the centre in refurbishing its building with a fresh coat of paint to mark the occasion of its 35th anniversary.
Prisca St. Paul, Director of Upton Gardens Girls Centre, explained that the building housing the centre is a heritage building that is over 100 years old and was originally owned by the Clavier family. The building was then passed on after the family left and became the Upton Lodge.
“Subsequently, the government handed it over to the National Council of Women, a voluntary organization, who lobbied to have a project for girls,” St. Paul said.
The centre has played an integral role in helping rehabilitate young women.
“All of our students who complete the programme have been successful, and many who don’t usually return to tell us that they regret making that decision,” St. Paul said.
The Director welcomed the assistance of the U.S. volunteers.
“It is good to see people coming from so far out to help our country,” she said.
A member of Catholic Heart Workcamp, Zach Walker, said that the opportunity to work in St. Lucia came out of an invitation to visit the island from local nuns he met at a convention.
Walker said: “We love the opportunity to come to St. Lucia, it’s so beautiful, and to be able to help out the people here is a joy for US.”