Skip to Content

Giving Back: A Reading Road Trip with Sandals Foundation

Have you ever considered giving back on vacation? This year, I attended the Social Media on the Sand Conference at Beaches Negril resort and had the opportunity to participate in a Reading Road Trip Experience through the Sandals Foundation.

The Reading Road Trip initiative is aimed at improving literacy, comprehension and vocabulary of children throughout the Caribbean. The trip takes place every Thursday and is available through Island Routes Adventure Tours.  The experience  allows guests of Sandals and Beaches Resorts – in Jamaica, Antigua, the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia and Exuma in the Bahamas – to visit a Foundation adopted school and lend literacy support to students.

 

reading road trip in negril jamaica

All of the attendees of the Social Media on the Sand Conference spent the first full morning of the conference learning more about the Sandals Foundation before we were all divided into groups and bussed to various schools in Negril to volunteer for our Reading Road Trip.  My group took a happy trip to Happy Hearts Early Childhood Institution in Negril, Jamaica.

 

Reading roadtrip experience with the sandals foundation in Negril Jamaica

It was so heartwarming and FUN to read to these children, listen to them, and learn about how and where THEY learn.

Reading Roadtrip with sandals foundationJamaica

 

I got to know these three little guys so well on our trip. I learned about their families, what they like, their school and what books they loved.

 

reading roadtrip in Negril Jamaica

 

I was so honored that they shared their schools, their lives and their time with me on this trip. Reading to these children, coloring with them, and listening to them talk about their families was one of the highlights of my trip.

reading road trip with sandals foundation in negril jamaica

reading roadtrip Negril Jamaica with sandals foundation

 

 

reading roadtrip with sandals foundation

 

reading roadtrip sandals foundation

 

Visitors to the resorts can volunteer (for a small fee which includes the cost of round trip transportation) 2 hours of their time at one of The Sandals Foundation’s adopted schools and interact with children and help them with their literacy skills. If you want to participate with a Reading Road Trip when you visit a Sandals/Beaches Resort, you may sign up with Island Routes Tours via the tour company’s website  www.islandroutes.com, its call centre at 1-888-429-5478 (toll free from Jamaica), or Island Routes Tours desk at any Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple resort.

reading roatrip with sandals foundation

 

 

While we were there, the kids at Happy Hearts colored photos to send to the children of Haiti and the Bahamas who were affected recently by Hurricane Matthew.  You too can help out by donating to the Beaches Moms campaign to support of the Sandals Foundation’s Hurricane Matthew fundraising efforts.  You can donate by clicking here and placing Lashawn Wiltz or Everyday Eyecandy in the comments! 

 

reading roadtrip with sandals foundation, negril jamaiaca

 

Do you think you would enjoy a Reading Road Trip at a Sandals Resort? Have you ever volunteered on vacation? What do you think of this initiative?

Julie

Thursday 9th of January 2020

I tried to do the Reading Road Trip twice, but there "wasn't enough interest", so they wouldn't take just my husband and me. I taught elementary school for 20 years, and was really looking forward to it. I was surprised, and couldn't understand why, they wouldn't let us go. I like to think two people volunteering are worth the time, but apparently not.

Jean Carol

Wednesday 22nd of May 2019

Your view on ethnically volunteering is great. Going to pin this article, feel others can get benefits too.

Jean Carol

Wednesday 15th of May 2019

I would like to say something about the Volunteer work. I have done many Charity and volunteer jobs and works with my mates in the office. Its really a good and wonderful activity.

Eva

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

Love this! That was a really wonderful day with the kids and exploring the school. I definitely feel like I need to go back!

Patranila

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

I've always thought about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity but this reading thing seems like way more fun! And a damn sight less taxing!