More than 500 residents in three deprived communities in the Western Region, have benefitted from the pilot edition of “Save the Smiles Project”, initiated by Poetic Brain Media Consult (PBMC).

The residents from the beneficiary communities comprising Princess Town, Akatakyi, and Akyekyene in the Ahanta West District, received assorted items worth more than GH¢ 2, 000.00.

The items included clothes, foot wears, bathing and washing soap, food stuff, exercise books, pens, pencils and other educational materials.

Presenting the items Mr Enoch Quaye, Chief Executive Officer of PBMC said the project, forms part of a yearly supportive programme of the business oriented organisation as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

He said the initiative was inspired by the desire of members of PBMC to help improve the livelihood of persons in deprived communities throughout the country and help them to appreciate life better.

“We don’t have to look down on anyone here; it is not by anyone’s fault that they find themselves here. What we have to do is to give them the needed support such that they can also enjoy certain basic amenities that make life comfortable,” he said.

Mr Quaye noted that children from the deprived communities could o rise to occupy higher positions in the country in future, if they are given the needed motivation to go to school.

He said PBMC would sponsor one brilliant but needy student from New Life Basic School in Princess Town up to the senior high school level and assured the residents of the organisation’s continued support. Mr Afedzi Abdullah, Corporate Affairs Manager, observed that though it is a great disadvantage to live at the village, he believes the project would bring hope to the beneficiary communities.

Mr Abdullah asked parents in the beneficiary communities not to lose hope in their situation but rather take the education of their wards very seriously as that is the only way they could come out of poverty.

He urged philanthropists and other corporate institutions to offer people in deprived communities a helping hand as part of their social responsibility.

Pastor Prince Boamah, Director of New Life Basic School, who received the items on behalf of the communities, thanked PBMC for the support.

He pleaded with public sector workers especially teachers and health workers to accept postings to the area since their services are urgently needed to save lives.