More than 1,100 students across Antigua are benefiting from enhanced literacy resources and revitalized school libraries through a partnership between the Sandals Foundation and regional literacy nonprofit Hands Across the Sea.

The latest phase of the Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) Programme is reaching 1,192 students at five schools across the island, providing access to carefully selected books, literacy materials, and improved library spaces designed to foster a love of reading.

The initiative is supported by an investment of EC$54,607 from the Sandals Foundation and focuses on strengthening literacy opportunities at TOR Memorial School, St. Michael’s Primary School, Urlings Primary School, Parham Primary School, and Princess Margaret Secondary School.

Students and teachers are already seeing the benefits of upgraded lending libraries and reading resources tailored to the specific needs of each school. The programme also supports librarians and educators who play a key role in encouraging reading engagement among students.

Ben Engle, Executive Director of Hands Across the Sea, said the organization’s work extends beyond simply supplying books.

“Through our Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) programme, Hands Across the Sea does far more than place books on shelves,” Engle said. “We help create or rejuvenate school libraries, train and support literacy champions on the ground, and work alongside educators to ensure resources remain active, relevant, and impactful long after delivery.”

Engle noted that each participating school receives a customized collection of books and resources based on student reading levels, classroom realities, and developmental needs.

For the Sandals Foundation, the initiative aligns with its broader mission of investing in education and community development throughout the Caribbean.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, described literacy as a cornerstone of educational success and social progress.

“Education remains one of the most powerful ways we strengthen communities, and literacy sits at the heart of that journey,” Clarke said. “Our partnership with Hands Across the Sea is especially meaningful because it combines shared purpose with proven expertise. Their understanding of the literacy landscape across our region allows us to invest in ways that are thoughtful, strategic, and deeply responsive to the needs of children and educators alike.”

Founded in 2007, Hands Across the Sea has established itself as one of the Eastern Caribbean’s leading literacy organizations, working closely with schools, educators, ministries of education, and literacy specialists to build sustainable reading cultures.

The Antigua initiative builds on a five-year partnership between the Sandals Foundation and Hands Across the Sea that has supported schools and libraries in Antigua, Saint Lucia, and Grenada.

Both organizations say their shared goal remains ensuring that more Caribbean children have access to the books, resources, and supportive learning environments needed to become confident, lifelong readers.