The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the country continues to focus its philanthropic efforts on the relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Joaquin, students at one local high school have joined the drive to assist those in need.

The Noble Prepatory Academy, through its “NPA Cares” programme, took it as an opportunity for its students to give back to the community.

Geno Bullard, president of NPA, said when the faculty learned that one of their students’ immediate family was directly impacted by the effects of the storm, it mobilised the students at the small private institution to lend a hand.

“Immediately following the storm, that first day back to school, we had some students that had not heard from family members. Rumours were going around and it was an uneasy time so we had been doing counselling and helping them.

“Most people in Nassau may not have been affected but you don’t know how close it is and it touches you until you come to school and see students breaking down,” he said.

“Even without that special interest from our side we wanted to be involved because of who we are and what we stand for at NPA. Having students whose families have been affected by this gave us an extra boost to show these students that we support them, their families and this entire effort.”

The students donated a plethora of items, including clothing, water, food, diapers and an array of different supplies listed by those spearheading the relief efforts.

“We want to make sure that we have our students involved in this relief. We have a foundation where we travel throughout the school year and make sure our students are civic minded.

“We want our students to have a certain level of social consciousness so we want to just offer some relief from our school in aid of our brothers and sisters in the southern Bahamas. It’s most important to understand it’s better to give because you never know when you may be in a situation and you may need relief or some help,” Bullard said.

“We have our academic programmes, our athletic programmes, and this is something that is very big in our school as well, the humanitarian side.”

Joaquin, the category four hurricane, slowly moved over the Bahamas last week, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Long Island, San Salvador, Cat Island, Rum Cay, Crooked Island and Acklins were the hardest hit islands.

South Long Island is still severely flooded while there has been little communication with Acklins.

Bullard was one of the most successful Bahamian basketball coaches before he made the transition to academic administration when he founded the NPA just three years ago. He is also the international recruiter for the entire Caribbean region for Niagra College.

NPA has academic ties with Ridley, Niagra and Brock University.

For those interested, Bullard encourages them to visit their website: www.npabahamas.com, check out their Facebook page: Noble Preparatory Academy Bahamas or call 676-0055 for more information.