THE Massy Foundation has launched a $500,000 back-to-school programme aimed at helping 500 students across the country meet the cost of essential school supplies.Called Classroom Ready, the initiative will provide each selected student with a $1,000 voucher to assist with the purchase of textbooks, uniforms and other school supplies ahead of the new academic year.The programme was officially launched yesterday at Massy Gas Products in Point Lisas, where principals from participating Trinidad schools received vouchers on behalf of students. A separate presentation is expected to be held in Tobago before the start of the school year.The foundation said schools were selected based on the level of financial and social need within their communities, geographic location, and access to existing corporate support.The participating schools will identify the students who would benefit most from the assistance.Massy Foundation chairman David Affonso said the programme reflected the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people and supporting the communities in which it operates.“The start of a new school year should be a time of excitement and possibility for every child. For many families, however, the cost of textbooks, uniforms and other supplies can bring considerable pressure,” Affonso said.“Through Classroom Ready, we are helping 500 students begin the school year with the essential materials they need to participate fully and approach their education with greater confidence.”Massy Group senior vice-president, People & Culture, Nadia McCarthy said the initiative was developed to direct assistance to schools and families where it could have the greatest impact.“Access to education is more than having a place in a classroom. It is a young person who also needs the tools, support and environment that allows them to participate fully once they get there,” McCarthy said.She said the foundation worked with educators and community stakeholders to identify areas where the need was greatest.“School principals know their communities and are well placed to ensure that this support reaches students who need it most,” she said.McCarthy said the first year of the programme would also allow the foundation to learn from participating schools, students and families and use that feedback to strengthen the initiative.Principal of Todd’s Road RC School Marieanna Gervais welcomed the programme, saying it would ease some of the financial pressure faced by families preparing their children for school.“For some families, preparing a child for school requires difficult financial choices. This support will ease part of that burden and help students begin the term with the supplies they need,” Gervais said.