Nonprofit Group Provides School Supplies To At Least Two Teachers At Every Public School On St. Croix

ST. CROIX — V.I. Leaders for Change (V.I.L.F.C.), non-profit partners with V.I. Arts and Media Foundation in St. Croix, donated school supplies to St. Croix public school teachers last week. The group of young professionals is focused on mentoring the island’s youth and providing supplies to local teachers is an offshoot of its growing concern for the students.

Since the inception of V.I.L.F.C. in 2014, the group has worked with St. Croix’s young population, providing mentorship programs in public schools and collaborating with organizations like the Caribbean Center for Boys and Girls.

V.I.L.F.C. is comprised of eight young professionals and led by Daren Georges, who serves as president. Mr. Georges told the Consortium that just last week the non-profit visited every public school and donated supplies to two teachers per school. “Not only has the group benefitted teachers, but they have committed their time to work in partnership with a class at the St. Croix Educational Complex at least once a month,” Mr. Georges pointed out. 

Though working with teens is the primary focus, the group has also spent time working with students of elementary schools, specifically Eulalie Rivera and Juanita Gardine. V.I.L.F.C. has also provided giveaways for children with disabilities and other less fortunate children, the organization’s president noted.

The group of millennials, determined to give back to their community, wanted to show that a unified group of young professionals can make a difference in the lives of St. Croix’s youth and make a noticeable impact in the community on a whole. 

V.I.L.F.C. often speaks with the students, covers public speaking on their visits, and believes it is playing an important role by doing its part to prepare the youth for the future.

Future goals of the group include vetting other millennials to increase their strength in numbers and effectively provide more services to the community. There is an open invitation for anyone interested in joining their effort. Anyone willing to participate, either full-time or part-time is welcome. The group said it recognizes that not everyone has the time to commit full-time; however, providing donations or contributing financially is also an option. 

The non-profit is also focused on redoubling their efforts to regroup and improve their services to benefit even more people. In the future, it will be highlighting the stories of selected teachers on the island to raise awareness of their specific needs. 

The group is accepting donations to aid with its cause, and fundraising efforts extend into the summer months.