MEETING THE DEMANDS OF EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN

Michael Myles and Alric Lindsay have been friends since they attended George Town Primary school together a few decades ago. In the past year, they found themselves teaming up again. They recently donated $2,000 of their personal funds to George Town Primary School to ensure students at the school continue to receive school lunches.

Soon after that (with the help of the Cayman Food Bank and a private donor), Mr. Myles and Lindsay were successful in raising $10,000 for charitable purposes, including to ensure the children’s homes receive much needed laptops, personal protective equipment (including face masks and hand sanitizer) and food supplies. These supplies were donated to a former employer of Mr. Myles, the CAYS Foundation, which manages the Frances Bodden and Bonaventure Homes. On 22 May 2020, Mr. Myles and Mr. Lindsay continued their community work in George Town by spending $7,000 of their personal funds to provide laptops to students who were being forced to do homework on their parent’s cellphones.

Mr. Myles stated “there have been many heroes in my life that have taught me the value of a good education: my mother Grace Myles, Gillie Seymour, Winston Chung, Richard Marshall, Lorna Lumsden just to name a few. In perhaps one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries in the world, no child in the Cayman Islands should have to be taught from their parent’s cellphone. I am saddened that this is the case. Education must be equitable for all Caymanians despite circumstance if we are serious about producing responsible citizens and leaders to move our country forward. I am honored and privileged to be in a position to give back to our families as I once was provided for.”

Mr. Lindsay remains busy with raising funds and delivering food each day from Meals on Meals and the Good Samaritan Cayman Islands Food Bank (best known as the Cayman Food Bank) while Mr. Myles operates a TVET training center which provides Caymanians with employability and Technical skills.

Mr. Lindsay stated that “through my work with various charities, I became aware of the growing demand for laptops for students who needed to complete their studies online but only had their parents’ cellphones available to access the online programmes. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult for parents during the covid-19 pandemic to find $500 in their budget to purchase a laptop. Some parents also don’t have the contacts in big companies to get hold of used laptops. I was happy to help bridge the gap and assist these parents and students”.