Rotary Liamuiga anticipates productive 2009
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com
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RCL President Chris English
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the recent celebration of their five-year anniversary as Rotarians, members of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL) are committed to ensuring they leave an indelible and positive mark on the lives of Kittitians.
SKNVibes contacted the Club’s President, Chris English, who revealed and expounded upon several projects the RCL is hoping to perform this year.
According to English, the Club’s main priority would be continued development of the recently established Advancement of Children Foundation (ACF).
The Foundation’s mandate is to counteract the trend of rising violence and antisocial behaviour among the young people through the promotion of good parenting, family and social values. English stated that the Foundation’s Board would be executing a needs inventory during the coming months.
“We have to first examine existing social programmes and assess their effectiveness, then we can decide what measures can be taken to improve the deficiencies these programmes may have.
“It’s also important that we inspect whatever gaps may exist in terms of the services these programmes provide and try to implement the relevant projects to address these needs. Our goal is to provide a slew of services that with the proper execution can break the negative cycle that many of our youth are taking,” said the President. ~~Adz:Right~~
English identified proper parenting, the reduction of teenage pregnancy and child abuse, and the adequate provision of extracurricular activities for youth as areas the Foundation would target in order to achieve its objectives.
Another major project to be undertaken by the Club will be a School Talent Search in which children from primary and secondary schools will compete in different artistic categories including poetry, song, drama and dance. English pointed to the Search as a way to encourage schools to teach the performing arts, to motivate pupils to become involved in the arts and to foster a sense of friendly competition in students.
He also disclosed the Club’s intentions to participate in the annual LIME Make A Wish Programme and to sponsor students to attend a regional Model United Nations Conference in Trinidad later this year.
“Additionally, the RCL intends to donate about four or five wheelchairs to several of St. Kitts’ disabled persons, to host a golf tournament in March to raise funds that will go towards the worldwide eradication of polio, and to introduce an online literacy programme in the Newtown Primary School.
“We have also recorded several public service announcements that address issues such as fire safety, safe sex practices and dengue fever. These can be heard on Winn FM and will eventually be broadcast on the island’s other radio stations,” said English.
The outgoing President expressed his confidence that the Club would be able to achieve all of its planned objectives and stated that the public should look out for a greater Rotarian presence in 2009.
