BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Devrone Connor has been paralyzed since birth, however he now has a new outlook on life thanks to the St. Kitts Basseterre Leo Club’s generous donation of a new wheelchair.
The elated 16-year-old recipient from St. Pauls, who is also a fourth form student of the Sandy Point High School, said he is grateful that the Leo Club was able to see his need and meet it, adding that the gift would be of great assistance to him.
“I really want to say sincere thanks to the Leo Club, the [Taiwanese] Embassy and the Government for partnering so that persons like me all over St. Kitts-Nevis can get assistance. I see this as a very positive act that the group is involved in. This [wheelchair] would be extremely useful especially for me to move around at school and home. I will be sure to take good care of it,” Connor promised.
The youth-based organization has a mandate to empower other youth with the aim to improving their lives holistically. Of recent times, the Club has paid particular attention to human development in rural communities on the western side of the island and has donated many gifts through its Leo Child Care and Project Help initiatives.
President of the Club Donelle Caines told SKNVibes that the Government received a number of wheelchairs from the Republic of China on Taiwan and subsequently sent out a number of invitations to certain youth groups to identify individuals who may be in need of one. Caines said Connor’s parent had requested a wheel chair from the group to improve her son’s ability to move around.
“We are very thankful that were able to be used as an instrument of change in the community. It shows that we are not limited to the four walls of any building but that we are actively involved in the lives of many to advance our cause of community development. Having witnessed the progress made by this group in providing assistance to at-risk and underprivileged individuals, the Government trusted us to identify a person in need and make the donation. I am certain that it would go a long way.
“Through this, we intend to foster increased cooperation with the Government and the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan to undertake similar projects to make a positive impact on the lives of many.”
For the year, the group has adopted the Newton Ground Primary School and has undertaken donations of food hampers, gift baskets and educational material to a wide cross-section of St. Kitts, an act President Caines informed would allow the group to leave its mark in the social development of the island.
