The girls of the Antigua Girls High School (AGHS) burst with excitement at the handover ceremony of a multipurpose court donated by the Sandals Foundation on Friday 5^th October. 

The six hundred students who attend this prestigious school were elated not only about their newly constructed netball/basketball facility but also the presence of their beloved principal; Mrs. Yvette Samuel who has been on sick leave. Mrs. Samuel felt that this auspicious occasion was one worth attending and she noted that the idea of reconstructing the tennis court at AGHS had floated around for many years but has never taken ground.

When the school became one of the Sandals Foundation three adopted Schools, Mrs. Samuel indicated the need for a multi-purpose court and after two years of planning with the Sandals Foundation team, her dream for the school and students came true. 
 

Mrs. Samuel remarked, “Sandals Foundation has stamped its signature on a page of our history and has kept its word and so this morning we express our sincerest gratitude to the Sandals Foundation for granting our students in 2012, the opportunity to play netball, basketball and eventually tennis, right here, where their grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters played. As of today our physical education CXC students will be able to conduct their practicals right here”.
 

Deputy Director of Sports, Mr. Evans Jones recounted the strong relationships that the Sandals Foundation have built over the years with the Ministry of Sports, and other sports organisations which have contributed to the development of Sports in Antigua. Mr. Evans declared, “The Sandals Foundation has been committed to the Ministry of Sports and in the development sports in this country. Most notable is the high performance cricket camp which has trained many young Antiguan cricketers. It is a great joy to see that the Foundation continues to spread its wings in other sporting areas that will benefit our young female athletes.”
 

A major focus of Sandals Foundation is sustainable development within the local communities and education and Mr. Clare Browne, Senior Education officer opined, “Ministry of Education salutes a corporate citizen for benevolence. We extend grateful thanks to Sandals Foundation for this investment in the ladies in blue; for continuing to demonstrate a commitment to education and to assisting with the development of the young people of our twin island nation.”
 

The officials of the Sandals Foundation are pleased with the impact that this new facility will have on the lives of the students and is working tirelessly with its other adopted schools to complete projects within the coming months that will benefit hundreds of Antiguan students.