George Town Primary School students are on their way to having a beautiful place to play, thanks to the United World Colleges (Cayman Islands) National Foundation (CIUWC) and a host of other local companies. More than 25 volunteers, many of them alumni of the school themselves, turned out bright and early on Saturday 24 March to plant shrubs, trees and plants in the school’s new playground area and around the perimeter of the new school addition. The old playground was destroyed, by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the school has been financially unable to build it back.

CIUWC initially approached the school with the intent to plant a number of shade trees in honour of CIUWC students who had started their education at George Town Primary. The idea literally grew from there and when the Dart nursery also offered its assistance, George Town Primary’s wish for a beautified usable outdoor play space was about to come true.

Saturday saw a very successful first “Planting Day” at the school. CIUWC volunteers Kagabo, Charmaine, Alexis, Aubrey, Dan, Zinananna, Lizzette, Ian and Tara did an amazing job tackling the playground area, planting over 100 shrubs, trees and plants donated by Dart. CIUWC Chairperson, Tara Rivers, said, “CIUWC is happy to play a part in helping to create a place where our children can play and grow, in an environment which will hopefully foster a greater awareness and appreciation of our natural environment and a desire to promote sustainable development in our islands.”

“Dart’s contribution to this day was more than we could ever have dreamed of,” said PTA Fundraising Coordinator, Cheyenna Stewart. “Their donation of all plants for the area earmarked for the school playground, which included local trees and plants and enough Mahoe Shrub to border the entire perimeter of the playground area – 249 to be exact – and the new school addition was just shocking. Words cannot express how much we appreciate their donation of thousands of dollars of trees and plants.”

The volunteers’ backs were saved from having to dig through more rock with pick ax and shovel with the appearance of Merlin Seymour from S and S Bobcat Services and Duronnie Myles with Myles Equipment