WHAT started five years ago as a backto- school effort for about 150 students in Santa Cruz has grown into an initiative supporting as many as 500 children this year.

The annual initiative was held on Saturday in Cantaro Village, where Santa Cruz born-businessman Darren Roberts returned to the community for the fifth consecutive year to provide school supplies and encouragement to children preparing for the new school term. Roberts said the initiative was about giving back to the community that helped shape his life. 'I actually grew up here in Santa Cruz, went to school here in Santa Cruz, and, you know, have been fortunate enough to really get a lot of good guidance from the folks here in the village, and it has led me to do some great things in life,' he said.

The initiative provides students with books, notebooks, pens, pencils and other school essentials. It caters to children from the elementary level through junior secondary school. Roberts said the programme had expanded significantly since it began, with the number of students receiving assistance more than tripling over the five year period.