Do you remember Aunty Olga? She was one of the greatest philanthropists Barbados has ever known. Perhaps her finest initiative was to fund the cost of school uniforms for needy children across the island. When she died, Aunty Olga asked Variety to maintain this programme and keep her legacy alive.
Children from more than two hundred of Barbados’ poorer families are now receiving the benefit of Variety’s School Aid Programme. Every child goes to school with their head held high, looking smart and tidy, thanks to the free provision of a full school uniform including shoes, socks and shirts.
All Barbadians believe that children should go to school as equals, whether their family is rich or poor. This is at the heart of the school uniform policy which was created to ensure some measure of equality amongst the children. This is a noble goal but how can a poor family afford the cost of a smart uniform for their children… when the cost can be more than $300 per child each year?
Thanks to Variety and Aunty Olga’s vision, there is a solution to this problem. Our school uniforms are provided free of charge and on a confidential basis to those who need them the most. This ensures that even the poorest child can go to school with pride, looking just as smart as their friends who are lucky enough to belong to a more prosperous family.
As the mother of one of the children said recently, “Thanks to Aunty Olga, Variety and the Good Lord, my child is loving school. She is full of confidence and doing very well. Looking and feeling as smart as the rest of the children is a big part of her success.”
Variety runs several programmes which touch needy children in every community. Continue to browse this site to learn more.
Most importantly, please consider becoming a Member of Variety Barbados. It costs just $50 each year (less than a snow-cone a week) and you will be proud of the good work we can do with every cent of your money.
You may even win one of our staycation prizes!!
Please go to our website and click on Membership. Do it now. Help us keep Aunty Olga’s great legacy alive.
Donnah Russell
Executive Director
Variety, the Children’s Charity
