BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE recently revitalised Shaping Our Society (SOS) volunteer organisation has picked up where it left off before becoming dormant by donating a computer to the St. Kitts Children’s Home.

The group of community-minded young persons formally turned over the computer, along with some general medical supplies, to the administrator and staff of the Home on Friday, June 19. The altruistic gesture was done in collaboration with the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida.

Club President Gallio Gumbs explained how the alliance with UCF had come about, divulging that one of the school’s professors had spent time in St. Kitts about a year ago and had pledged to help the group in whatever capacity he could.

“SOS is a community-based group, so we plan to undertake a number of charitable projects and activities. [Professor] Kevin Veehan liked our motives and objectives, so we were grateful to make that connection with him and the UCF administration,” Gumbs said.

The SOS president further informed of upcoming plans for the group’s 2009/2010 year and noted all projects would be executed under the group’s mandate of enhancing both its members and society.

“We want to bring back the Expressions concert that was held in 1987. It’s basically a show where young persons can display their talents under a banner of public awareness. We’re also very concerned about health awareness, so we plan to have some health fairs and health walks.

“Additionally, we will be instituting a school reading programme at the Irish Town Primary School, as well as continuing to participate in other community activities,” stated Gumbs.

SOS was founded in 1989 by Val Henry with the objective of strengthening and empowering the nation.

The group suffered a brief dormancy period in the late nineties and early 2000s, but its members held a Reactivation Ceremony earlier this month to reaffirm their commitment to the club’s motto: “Working to Make a Difference”.