By S.Browne. Updated 7:04 p.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
More than 60 students at Clare Valley and Questelles Government Schools have received school bags containing school supplies and educational materials following a charitable donation from a Vincentian-founded organisation based in Montreal, Canada.
The donation was made by Dede’s Bright Futures Foundation, founded and owned by Vincentian Desria Frederick-Wilson. The items were distributed to students on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The Department of Diaspora Affairs, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, facilitated the clearance and release of the donated items upon their arrival in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to the Ministry, the Department’s assistance enabled the organisation to avoid additional customs duties on the charitable donations.
The initiative highlights the continued contribution of Vincentians living abroad to children and communities at home, while also demonstrating the role of the Department of Diaspora Affairs in supporting charitable initiatives originating within the Vincentian diaspora.
Frederick-Wilson, a Vincentian living in Canada, was among representatives of Dede’s Bright Futures Foundation who paid a courtesy call to the Department of Diaspora Affairs on Monday, August 24.
She was accompanied by Leslieanna Joseph, the Foundation’s Liaison Officer in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The representatives met with Sharon Jones, Senior Advisor, to express their appreciation for the Department’s assistance.
The Department of Diaspora Affairs expressed gratitude to the Office of the Director General within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for its assistance in facilitating the clearance and release of the charitable items.
The Department said it remains committed to strengthening its engagement with Vincentians in the diaspora and supporting initiatives that contribute to the well-being and development of children and communities throughout Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The donation comes as students across the country prepare for the new academic year, providing recipients at the two government schools with school bags and supplies to support their education.
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