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what Hands has achieved....with your generous help
  Tackling child literacy in the Caribbean
At Stephanie Browne Primary School on Union Island, a school supported by Hands Across the Sea in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, two boys discover the magic of reading

The reach and positive impact of Hands Across the Sea, co-founded in 2007 by Harriet and Tom ("T.L.") Linskey to promote children's literacy and assist schools and libraries in Caribbean communities, is growing quickly. Hands works directly with school principals, teachers, learning-support advisors, community leaders, local NGOs, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers affiliated with Caribbean schools to find out what books and classroom materials students (from pre-school to high school) need to improve learning and literacy — and then we get it to them. Our Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) program has assisted 291 schools, libraries, reading programs, and youth centers and over 55,000 children in the Eastern Caribbean. To see the children and young students that Hands has helped, go to the Hands Photo Album or Hands Video pages. To see our current requests for assistance, go to the Hands Wish Lists page. To view what we've done year by year, scroll the list below.

  
 
Hands Assistance: 2012 / 2013 School Year
Sent 18,362 books and 94 boxes of resources to the following 68 schools, libraries, reading programs, and youth centers (approximately 13,038 students):
ANTIGUA   (1,617 students; 2,899 books)
• Bolans Primary School (627 books)
• Clare Hall Secondary School (478 books)
• Irene B. Williams Secondary School (140 books)
• Kids Unlimited Primary School (431 books)
• New Winthorpe Primary School (414 books)
• St. John's Lutheran Primary School (452 books)
• St. Mary's Secondary School (357 books)

DOMINICA   (3,332 students; 5,781 books)
• Achievement Learning Center (116 books)
• Bagatelle Primary School (144 books)
• CALLS Centre (3 books)
• Campbell Primary School (679 books)
• Castle Bruce Primary School (491 books)
• Clifton Primary School (75 books)
• Delices Primary School (94 books)
• Goodwill Primary School (48 books)
• Grand Fond Primary School (140 books)
• Isaiah Thomas Secondary (185 books)
• Isulukati Special Education and Pre-School (218 books; 2 boxes of teaching resources)
• Jones Beaupierre Primary School (144 books)
• Laudat Primary School (83 books)
• Morne Jaune Primary School (140 books; 54 boxes of teaching resources)
• Newtown Juvenile Futbol Academy (digital projector and screen)
• Northeast Comprehensive Secondary School (470 books)
• Paix Bouche Primary School (112 books; 3 boxes of teaching resources)
• Penville Primary School (371 books; 1 box of teaching resources)
• Petite Savanne Primary School (121 books)
• Pichelin Primary School (142 books)
• Roseau Primary School (46 books)
• Roseau Public Library (179 books)
• Salisbury Primary School (388 books)
• Tete Morne Primary School (546 books)
• Woodford Hill Primary School (479 books)
• Wotten Waven Primary School (367 books)

GRENADA   (2,436 students; 1,962 books)
• Corinth Government School (7 boxes of teaching resources)
• Crochu Primary School (193 books)
• Grenville Secondary School (174 books)
• Hope Pals (2 boxes of teaching resources)
• L'Esterre Primary School (515 books; 3 boxes of teaching resources)
• MacDonald College (471 books)
• Mt. Airy Reading Programme (75 books)
• Nation Builders (98 books)
• Programme for Adolescent Mothers (133 books; 2 boxes of toys; supply of toner)
• Roving Caregivers (68 books; 2 boxes of teaching resources)
• St. Joseph's RC Primary School (310 books)

ST. KITTS   (1,116 students; 931 books)
• Basseterre High School (187 books)
• Irish Town Primary School (273 books)
• Saddlers Secondary School (471 books)

ST. LUCIA   (2,927 students; 3,670 books)
• Banse La Grace Combined School (484 books; 1 box of educational games)
• Belle Vue Combined School (497 books)
• Bonne Terre Preparatory School (256 books)
• Dennery Primary School (456 books; 1 box of educational games)
• Grande Riviere Primary School (407 books)
• Gros Islet Secondary School (471 books)
• Kiddy's Homey Day Care (87 books; 2 boxes of toys)
• Kids Step Day Care (87 books; 2 boxes of toys)
• Montessori School (249 books)
• Soufriere Secondary School (1 multifunction printer)
• Vieux Fort Public Library (286 books)
• Vieux Fort Special Education (5 boxes of teaching resources)
• Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (Campus A) (390 books)

ST. VINCENT and the GRENADINES   (1,610 students; 3,119 books)
• Barrouallie Government School (581 books; 1 box of teaching resources)
• Buccament Government School (355 books)
• Cane End Government School (550 books; 1 box of teaching resources)
• Diamond Government School (299 books)
• Kingstown Government School (412 books)
• Marriaqua Public Library (172 books)
• Petit Bordel Secondary School (470 books)
• St. Vincent National Library (100 books)





Hands Assistance: 2011 / 2012 School Year
Sent 51,470 books and 95 boxes of resources to the following 100 schools, libraries, reading programs, and youth centers (approximately 17,000 students in 7 countries):
ANGUILLA
• Blowing Point Youth Centre (100 books)
• Little Dix / Stony Ground Community Centre (400 books)
• Orealia Kelly Primary School (150 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• The Valley Primary School (250 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)

ANTIGUA
• Bolans Primary School (800 books)
• Cedar Grove Primary School (800 books)
• Environmental Awareness Group (100 books and 4 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Liberta Primary School (100 books)
• St. Mary's Secondary School (800 books)
• The Student Support Centre (150 books)
• Villla Primary School (1,100 books)
• Willikies Primary School (800 books)

DOMINICA
• Bagatelle Primary School (500 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Beau Bois Pre School (100 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Calabishie Primary School (400 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• CALLS Centre (400 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Castle Bruce Primary School (700 books)
• Castle Bruce Secondary School (1,200 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Clifton Primary School (600 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Cottage Pre School (150 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Delices Primary School (400 books)
• Dominica Community High School (700 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Dominica Youth Business Trust (20 books and office supplies)
• Giruadel Primary School (250 books)
• Grand Fond Primary School (300 books)
• Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (900 books)
• Jones Beaupierre Primary School (300 books)
• Mahaut Primary School (400 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Morne Jaune Primary School (600 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Pennville Primary School (600 books)
• Petit Savanne Primary School (300 books)
• Pichelin Primary School (300 books)
• Portsmouth Secondary School (1,000 books)
• Roving Caregivers Programme (150 books)
• Salisbury Primary School (600 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Sheba Pre School (100 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• St. Luke's Primary School (20 books for a Guided Reading programme)
• Willis Strathmore Stevens Primary School (800 books)

GRENADA
• Bonaire Government School (800 books)
• Corinth Government School (700 books and 5 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Grenville Secondary School (1,200 books)
• MacDonald College (800 books)
• Mt. Airy Reading Programme (500 books)
• Roving Caregivers Programme (150 books)
• Special Education Teacher Training Unit (cash grant for teacher-training materials)
• St. Joseph's RC Morne Jaloux School (800 books)
• Sunnyside School (650 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)

ST. KITTS and NEVIS
• Bellevue Primary School (Nevis)(700 books)
• Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (St. Kitts)(500 books)
• Dr. William Connor Primary School (St. Kitts)(800 books)
• Elizabeth Pemberton Primary School (Nevis)(600 books)
• Gingerland Secondary School (Nevis)(900 books)
• Irish Town Primary School (St. Kitts)(800 books)
• Tyrell Williams Primary School (St. Kitts)(400 books)

ST. LUCIA
• Anse-La-Ray Primary School (900 books)
• Babboneau Primary School (1,000 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Bonne Terre Preparatory School (900 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Canaries Public Library (50 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Cannon Laurie Anglican Primary School (900 books)
• Children's Literacy Action Programme (600 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Court Diversion Programme (400 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Fond Assau Primary School (200 books)
• La Croix Maingot Combined School (1,200 books)
• La Guerre Primary School (700 books)
• La Ressource Combined School (500 books)
• Piaye Combined School (1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Richfond Combined School (400 books)
• Roblot Public Library (300 books)
• Soufriere Infant School (1,300 books)
• Soufriere Primary School (1,000 books)
• Vieux Fort Infant School (700 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Vieux Fort Public Library (300 books)
• Wilton's Yard Association After-School Program (600 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
• Bequia Reading Group (200 books)
• Bethel Pre School (1 box of books and teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Brighton Reading Group (200 books)
• Buccament Bay Secondary School (1,000 books)
• Buccament Government School (800 books)
• Cane End Government School (700 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Central Leeward Secondary School (1,200 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Chateaubelair Methodist Primary School (5 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Chateaubelair Red Cross Pre School (1 box of books and teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Diamond Government School (700 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Emmanuel High School (600 books)
• Fitz-Hughes Pre School (1 box of books and teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• George Stephens Secondary School (600 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Golden Grove Pre School (1 box of books and teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Grieggs Primary School (400 books)
• Kearton's United Community Organization (500 books)
• Kingstown Anglican School Annexe (10 Scholastic Big Books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Kingstown Government School (800 books and 3 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Mammy Joy's Reading Group (300 books and 1 box teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Marriaqua Government School (600 books)
• Mary Hutchinson Primary School (700 books and 2 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• National Council of Women (180 books)
• Owia Government School (800 books and 4 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Spring Village Methodist School (800 books and 5 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• St. Clair Dacon Secondary School (200 books)
• Stephanie Browne Primary School (200 books and 5 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• West St. George Secondary School (400 books and 4 boxes teaching resources/classroom supplies)



Hands Assistance: 2010 / 2011 School Year
Sent 38,555 books and 54 boxes of resources to the following 46 schools (approximately 10,000 students
in 7 countries and 8 islands) and 10 community libraries/reading programs/literacy specialists/local NGOs:
ANGUILLA
• Little Dix Community Centre (600 books)
• Orealia Kelly Primary School (300 books)
• The Valley Primary School (300 books)

ANTIGUA
• Liberta Junior Secondary School (2,800 books)
• Villa Primary School (200 books)
• St. Mary's Secondary School (100 books and funds to paint the library)


DOMINICA
• Canefield Pre-School (100 books and 4 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Delices Primary (2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Petit Savanne Primary (2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Grand Bay Primary (1,100 books and 4 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Isaiah Thomas Secondary (1,400 books)
• Laudat Primary (1 box of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Mahaut River Pre-school (300 books and 1 box of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Morne Jaune Primary (200 books)
• Morne Prosper Primary (600 books and 2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Roseau Primary (100 books)
• Trafalgar Primary (600 books and 4 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• San Sauveur Primary (600 books and 2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Savanne Paille Primary (700 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Jinja Pre-school (4 new classroom tables)
• Veda George, Pre-School Education Officer (300 books)
• Shermaine Bardouille, Ministry of Education Literacy Specialist (1 box of resources for literacy and language learning)
• St. Joseph SDA (200 books)
• St. John's Portsmouth (200 books)
• Roseau Public Library (350 books)
• Irie Eco Children's Program (cash grant)

GRENADA
• Program for Adolescent Mothers (1,000 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Roving Caregivers Program (600 books)
• Corinth Government Primary (1,100 books)
• St. Dominic's RC Primary (600 books)
• Mt. Airy Young Readers (200 books)
• Hillsborough Government School (200 books)
• Hillsborough Secondary (100 books)
• Mt. Pleasant School (200 books)
• Dover Government School (200 books)

NEVIS
• Gingerland Public Library (1,500 books)
• Charlestown Public Library (1,500 books)

ST. LUCIA
• Balata Primary (800 books)
• Dennery Primary (700 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Fond Assau Primary (800 books)
• Reunion Primary (1,500 books)
• St. Lucia's Council of Persons with Disabilities (5 requested titles)
• Soufriere Secondary (1,500 books)
• Soufriere Public Library (1,500 books and 8 sets of metal library shelving)
• Richfond Combined School (3,000 books and 2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Piaye Combined School (1,500 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
 • St. Aloysius RC Boys Primary (700 books)

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
• Stephanie Browne Primary, Union Island (700 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Union Island High School, (1,100 books)
• Georgetown Secondary (1,000 books)
• Chateaubelair Methodist Primary School (1,300 books and 3 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• JEMS Progressive Community Organization (300 books)
• St. Clair Dacon Secondary (300 books)
• Fitz-Hughes Primary (5 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Kingstown Anglican (200 books and 2 boxes of teaching resources/classroom supplies)
• Buccament Bay Secondary (1,500 books)
• George Stephens Secondary (1,000 books)
• Pamelus Burke Primary (1,000 books)

Partnering / Working with:
• The Sandals Foundation
• Harte-Hanks and AIT Worldwide, generous logistics partners
•Boaters for Books for the third year in a row to ship books to our adopted schools
• Eastern Caribbean director of the Peace Corps to assist U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers who request help in the form of books and school supplies
• The Lions Club of Roseau, Dominica, who helps identify schools and handles Dominica logistics
• Ann-Wallis White, a charter yacht broker who has been delivering books to Antigua and St. Vincent on yachts sailing from Newport and Annapolis since 1974
• Cruising sailors and families who wish to spend part of their sailing adventure in community service work to complete a "hands on" project
• Scholastic Literacy Partners
• Medwish International (affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic) to donate two pallets of medical supplies to the Roseau Primary Care Clinic in Dominica



Hands Assistance: 2009 / 2010 School Year
Served the following 13 schools (3,100 students in 3 countries on 3 islands) and community-based recipients:
1. Nevis Special Education School, Nevis (30 students)
2. St. John's Primary, Nevis (250 students)
3. Jocelyn Liburd Primary, Nevis (250 students)
4. Tyrell Williams School, St. Kitts (250 students)
5. Newtown Primary, Dominica (250 students)
6. Jinja Pre-school, Dominica (30 students)
7. Canefield Pre-school, Dominica (30 students)
8. Goodwill Primary, Dominica (650 students)
9. Roseau Primary, Dominica (250 students)
10. Isaiah Thomas Secondary, Dominica (550 students)
11. Stephanie Browne Primary, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (250 students)
12. Union Island High School, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (250 students) 13. Irie-Eco International Children's Camp, Dominica (50 children)

• Arranged for transport of 120 boxes (about 10,000 books) of used children's books through partner organization, Boaters for Books.
• Shipped 32 boxes of teachers' and school resources
• Provided resources and teacher workshop materials to Shermaine Bardouille, a reading support advisor who supports 35 teachers on Dominica
• Built four "reading corners" at Roseau and Newtown Primary Schools with the help of the Thompson family on Tenaya, who helped us for the second year in a row
• Mentored a first-grade teacher (under the leadership of Educational Consultant Chris Lawrence) at Newtown Primary on ways to use The Very Hungry Caterpillar in her classroom
• Refurbished an unused classroom and created a new lunch room at Roseau Primary School with the help of two cruising families, the Van Alstines and the Springs
• Created a Literacy Centre at Isaiah Thomas Secondary School: painted the room with the help of the Wilsons, a cruising family; built 13 bookcases in two semicircles with display shelving; filled shelves with donated books; and presented the center to the school in a handing-over ceremony attended by the local MP


Hands Assistance: 2008 / 2009 School Year
Served 3 schools (530 students in 3 countries on 3 islands):
• Arranged for transport of 25 boxes of used children's books to three schools on Nevis, Dominica, and Union Island through partner organization Boaters for Books
• Shipped 10 boxes of teachers' and school resources to three schools
• Built 12 bookcases, one for each classroom at Newtown Primary School Roseau, Dominica (250 students)
• Provided seed funding for a playground at Goodwill Primary School, a school with 650 students in Dominica
• Donated funds to a sea turtle conservation organization to support beach patrols during nesting season
• Hosted Katy Linskey, a 4th year medical student, on board our sailboat Hands Across the Sea to perform 2.5 weeks of volunteer work at the Roseau Primary Care Clinic in Dominica
• Received hands-on project assistance from other cruisers: Bob and Betsy on Belair; Jim and Katie on Tenaya; the Ellsay family on Stray Kitty; the Lewis family on Cream
 
ways you can work with Hands...
how to donate
Cash donations can be made through a check made out to "Hands Across the Sea, Inc." and mailed to Hands Across the Sea, Inc., 651 Orchard Street, Suite 203, New Bedford, MA 02744.
Or you can donate via the secure PayPal interface on the Donate to Hands page. If you have a specific school or project you'd like to "adopt," please tell us in the Comments section of the PayPal interface or on your check. You'll help us fulfill the specific Wish Lists of our recipients.

how to donate books to Hands
If you'd like to donate new and near-new books, please go to our Hands Book Drop page or contact us!

sort or pack books for Hands Want to work hands-on? Please contact us!

host a Hands presentation or Hands fundraiser If you'd like to do either— contact us!

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Hands Across the Sea, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization