In a time of national crises stemming from the eight-month old global pandemic, two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to come to the rescue of many of those in need.
The four-time World 100-metre champion, in partnership with sponsors Digicel and GraceKennedy, on Tuesday presented tablets as well as data SIM cards to the National online learning program.
Fifty 50 tablets were distributed courtesy of the champion sprinter - 25 to The Wolmer’s High School For Girls and 25 to The Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Resource Centre. Digicel for whom Fraser-Pryce is an ambassador, donated 10 of the tablets along with 30 SIM cards already loaded with 10 GB anywhere data per month for one year. The SIM cards provide zero-rated access to over 100 educational websites. The remaining 40 tablets were purchased personally Mrs. Fraser-Pryce
At the community level, Fraser-Pryce also donated two desktop computers with GraceKennedy donating an additional four to outfit the Centre’s Computer Room which now features 25 tablets and six work stations equipped with comfortable swivel chairs.
The 33-year-old iconic athlete said this latest gesture serves in some way to offset another of her initiatives that she was forced to cancel this year because of the ongoing pandemic.
“Not being able to host what would have been the eighth consecutive SFP Six-A-Side “Peace Through Sports” Football competition has been extremely disappointing but I’m grateful that the opportunity presented itself to re-focus my outreach efforts on the completion of the Resource Centre,” she told Sportsmax.TV.
“Since the $5-million renovation by the Digicel Foundation, the space still lacked the necessary infrastructure to make it functional. I’m very happy to have the computer room up and running.”
She reserved special praise for D.O.S.2009 Ltd, distributors of Ricoh Multifunction Copiers and Software Solutions for the installation of the access point for wireless connection and facilitating the acquisition of a multi-function high volume printer which allows the students to print, copy and email from each station.
Present at the handing over ceremony were GraceKennedy’s Ricardo Smith and Digicel Brand Marketing Manager Reshima Kelly.