Bay Ridge

Poly Prep student helps kids in Guyana

Blossom Parris works to promote love of reading

July 31, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Blossom Parris, who is entering her junior year at Poly Prep, has been cited for her efforts to promote reading in Guyana. Photo courtesy Poly Prep
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Blossom Parris, a student at Poly Prep Country Day School, is receiving international recognition for her efforts to help children in the South American country of Guyana to develop a love of reading.

Parris, who will be entering her junior year at Poly’s Upper School in September, recently received a Youth Award during a celebration at Borough Hall, marking the 49th anniversary of Guyana’s independence from Great Britain.

The talented teen and her family opened a library in a village in Guyana in an effort to get books into the hands of children, according to Poly Prep officials.

Parris, a Guyanese-American, has made several trips to Guyana and plans to travel there again this month.

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Parris was nominated for the Youth Award by Tots and Teens in Focus Inc., a nonprofit organization. She is also a member of the group.

The Borough Hall event was organized by the Guyana Tri-State Alliance to honor members of the local Guyanese community who have played major roles in helping others in the country.

Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (D-Kensington-Prospect-Lefferts-Ditmas Park) presented the award to Parris.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who made this occasion for recognizing me possible,” Parris said upon accepting her award. “By considering me for these prestigious awards, I feel that you are living and putting into practice the main mission of Tots and Teens, which is to reconnect people with their communities in meaningful ways so as to promote the nurturing of youth who would be adequately equipped emotionally, academically, and culturally, to move their respective communities forward.”

On Aug. 1, Tots and Teens in Focus Inc. was scheduled to officially name Parris as a Tots and Teens ambassador to promote UNICEF’s “Every Child’s Right to an Education” campaign.

Parris, who enrolled in Poly Prep as a ninth grader, has a wide array of interests. She is passionate about dance choreography, has participated in the Women’s Innovation Symposium in Engineering, has played junior varsity basketball, is a member of the varsity track team and performed in the Upper School production of “Les Misérables.”

But helping children is where her heart is.

“I was already passionate about this mission,” she said, adding that being named an ambassador is making her “feel even more compelled to put effort into this project.”

Her goal is to share her love for reading, math and science with every child so that they can grow to appreciate books, reading and the value of libraries in the age of technology, she said in her acceptance speech.

Her family opened the library so that children could have access to as much information as possible, she said.

“It would be my greatest accomplishment if I can reach at least a few children to help them to understand that they are worthy of respect as humans and persons, regardless of their age, beliefs or background,” Parris said.

 


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