Hands Across the Sea, Inc.
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May 8, 2013
I spent three weeks working with Harriet and T.L. for the Hands in St. Lucia. I have worked for many charitable organizations and find that none works more diligently, efficiently or earnestly to serve their cause. Hands Across the Sea supports and sustains literacy by collaborating with students, teachers, Peace Corps Volunteers, librarians, principals and Ministry of Education officials to create and enhance libraries in classrooms, schools and communities. Working with Peace Corps Volunteers to clean out and organize their school libraries, was my favorite part because I got my hands dirty, saw real improvemnet and met lots of students and teachers who appreciated the work we were doing together. As a teacher on sabbatical, I liked experiencing Caribbean schools from the inside. I especially loved reading with students and helping them choose titles from the all the beautiful new books. This work was very fulfilling.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
May 4, 2013
I assisted in a service trip led to Dominica to help with the reorganisation of school libraries there. I greatly appreciated how much individual attention Hands Across the Sea gave each institution it was helping and I also greatly appreciated the high standards to which participants within the program were kept as this really helped to ensure that the assistance given would be used most efficiently.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Likely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 30, 2013
Hands Across the Sea literally sailed into our lives when we met the Linskeys in Carriacou. We had money and school supplies that had been donated by our community in New Jersey and wanted to find a school that could put it all to good use. We live on our boat with our three children and sail with another family of five. Harriet found schools to use our school supplies on Dominica and then found a school on Union Island where all ten of us could donate our time as well. We spent a whole day reorganzing a school library, helping our new student friends as well as teaching our own children the joy of giving. We look forward to working with Hands Across the Sea again. We recommend them to anyone with books, time, or money to offer to an organization that is making an enormous impact in the Caribbean.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 30, 2013
I co-lead a volunteer service trip of Yale students to the island of Dominica and worked with Harriet on refurbishing three school libraries in the North of the island. Harriet proved to be caring, attentive and determined to better the schools libraries and really make a sustained impact on the literacy rates of the island's youth. Her work is greatly needed in Dominica and the impact that Hands Across the Sea has already managed to have on the island is quite substantial. While we were only there for a short period of time, we got great insight into running an NGO in the Caribbean and I for one have a greater appreciation for just how difficult it is to do what they do. I came away feeling impressed with their dedication and drive.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Some
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 30, 2013
Hands Across the Sea has been a very important player in promoting the development of libraries and by extension, reading in Dominica and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean.
Peace Corps is very proud to partner with such a worthy cause on the part of Hands Across the Sea. Harriet, Bob and their team work tirelessly to ensure that the needs as expressed by the schools that are assisted are met. Our Peace Corps Volunteers are always eager to collaborate with the organization and help ensure that the libraries functioning effectively.
Hands Across the Sea does not simply send books, but instead uses a participatory approach to indentifying the needs. Working with the staff, it ensure that the organization is responding to the needs rather than simply providing books which may turn out to be inappropriate for the school and culture.
I am certain that the thousands of students from the various schools around the island who have benefitted from this program are much better readers and feel much more empowered today.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 23, 2013
Hands Across the Sea has been helping our Dominican schools for the past several years by providing books, shelves and refurbishing.
I met Harriet and Tom when they first came to Dominica and was impressed with their philosophy and care for the youth.
When a child learns to read their whole world opens to knowledge. Knowledge is the key to success.
New books and brightly painted furnishings, walls and floors make a library come alive and inviting to children whose culture is illiterate.
Harriet and Tom are easy to contact and listen to all requests. They have done a fantastic job building and restoring libraries for nearly the whole island.
We are truly appreciative for all their efforts.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 26, 2011
Harriet and Bob are wonderful people to work with. They visited our Morne Jaune Primary library to access our needs but found that we were in pretty good shape compared to most other schools. They still offered to help us procure any books that the principal and teachers felt necessary.
Although the shelves were packed many of the books were very old and not appropriate. Our teachers wanted more readers for the lower levels and I knew we needed more reference books.
Hands Across the Sea has a donation program that allows family and friends to also donate. A friend sent in funds via Paypal to "Hands". I was given Scholastic's discount code and allowed to go "spend" the funds on books we wanted.
We received two boxes of books that really made a difference in all the classrooms. These books did not make it to the library, they were divided up among the six grades.
Now they have offered to help with Castle Bruce Secondary. Another teacher and I began renovating an old classroom, setting up shelves and cleaning old books. Harriet and Bob visited us and have initiated the process to assist in obtaining the books needed.
Hands Across the Sea is involved in our Peace Corps book organization, Open Books/Open Minds. This help will ensure that the school children of Dominica will have libraries that can provide valuable books for all.
What impresses me most is their generous spirit to help. They truly understand the wealth that literacy makes in a child's life. Their assistance has made obtaining decent books much easier. Shipping is costly and they are handling all that for us.
Harriet answers all emails immediately and thoroughly.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
dealing with Harriet via emails and two visits on island at schools. I saw photos of what she and Bob did at other schools, making shelves, setting up libraries. Our library just needed some decent books. Being able to go on line and select from Scholastic was great. Having books shipped free was also a wonderful gift. The contract that schools are asked to consent to is simple and efficient. The teachers are made accountable for a few requirements that are necessary for sustainability.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
They are growing and need more help. I really don't have any changes to suggest.
April 8, 2013
We met Hands Across the Sea in Dominica 2008 and visited the school they were working with. The kids were so excited with the books they had received. We volunteered and helped build bookcases for a library section. We returned and help build reading rooms and helped with projects to get the kids interested in the many new books. The results were amazing.
More than anything else it is the dedication and true understanding about what works in the islands. This is not a group far away just sending stuff, they are there! Working with schools, teachers and students to see what works best.
We love this organization!
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 9, 2012
Packing the books, knowing where the books and resources were going and then also being able to correspond with those kids and educators directly has been extremely rewarding and impactful. These kinds of organizations will change the lives of kids forever!
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 1, 2012
This is my second year using Hands Across the Sea as a Peace Corps Volunteer. As a Literacy assistance at a primary school one of my main goals is to help ensure the students have up to date books in good condition to interact with. Hands Across the Sea has made this part of my role almost effortless. We received tons of great books and educational resources that are well suited for young students in the Caribbean. Culturally appropriate books that are fun and educational are not always easy to find. Hands makes this process seem effortless. They are easily accessible , personable and appear to have a genuine interests in not only the students but the Principals and Volunteers that assist with the request. Thanks for all you do Hands!!
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
January 16, 2012
Hands Across the Sea is simply a GEM! I was connected to the wonderful organization within my first few months of service in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a Peace Corps volunteer. I was a bit overwhelmed with various resources that were being tossed at us left and right. At that time I wasn’t sure what would work, what was appropriate and what the needs of my school were. Harriet and Tom came and made a face to face presentation to our class and completely personalized the Hands Experience. This gave me a better understanding of the wonderful work they have done in the Caribbean and how it related to my role as a volunteer. My principal was 100% on board with the collaboration and helped get things together. Throughout the process of raising funds and preparing the library I would contact Hands Across the Sea with questions and received detailed individualized feedback in a timely manner. We now have over 700 books from Hands and will be holding a library re-opening ceremony next month!! From start to finish it has been a true pleasure to work with this organization. Thank you for all you do!
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
October 25, 2012
Hands Across the Sea helped provide a massive amount of germaine and high quality books to our Primary School on St. Kitts. We were extremely happy with their help and assistance.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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