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Announcements

Maples Group Announces Three Year Partnership with LIFE

17 Dec 2021

The Maples Group is proud to announce a three-year partnership with non-profit literacy organisation; Literacy is for Everyone ("LIFE").  A recent donation made by the Group of US$30,000 on behalf of its clients is the first of three annual commitments towards LIFE and their cause of raising literacy levels in the Cayman Islands.

LIFE strives to identify effective long-term solutions to the existing challenge of low literacy levels and strategically assists in facilitating better teaching and learning in local public schools. With just two staff members and a handful of volunteers on the team, this recent pledge from the Maples Group supports the LIFE team in being able to spend more time in the community; advocating, educating and making a difference, and less time fundraising.

"We are deeply grateful to the Maples Group for entrusting LIFE with this three-year funding commitment and for their continued support," said Erica Dell'Oglio, Volunteer & Programmes Coordinator at LIFE.  "These are strange times in which to operate, but now our work is more important than ever.  Affording us this type of financial security enables us to focus on delivering LIFE programmes to those most in need."  

LIFE's current focus is on early childhood development, working with teachers, families and children to provide improved educational programmes.  In addition, LIFE's community outreach programme provides free books and information for families with the aim to drive more books into the home and improve literary development.  The LIFE team is also always working hard as advocates for literacy, collaborating with local government agencies and pushing for institutional improvements, such as nationally accessible early education certifications, as well as free vision and hearing screening for all three to five year olds - factors which, if overlooked, may otherwise impact a child's learning abilities.

Commenting on the Group's decision to enter into a partnership with LIFE, Scott Somerville, CEO of MaplesFS, part of the Maples Group, said: 

"LIFE's holistic approach to changing the institutional and cultural issues around illiteracy is very refreshing.  We are always impressed by the excellent work they do, their inspiring vision for the future and the impact they have on so many in the Cayman Islands.  We simply hope that the promise of our support over the coming years provides a little relief to the team and allows them to continue to focus on making a difference for children and families in our community.  We are proud to be a sponsor of LIFE."

LIFE are always open to receiving donations of new and gently used books, and will use them to ensure that public school children have well-stocked shelves and classroom libraries to choose from.  If you too wish to donate your books, money or time to LIFE, or if you wish to find out more, please visit https://www.life.org.ky/donate.