News for October 2013

News from Jamaica

The Staff and students of Savanna La Mar Infant School would like to express their profound gratitude to the Rotary International Community for their generous donation of computers, books, television and educational
toys. These gifts will enable our students to develop to their maximum potential at the early childhood level.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
God bless you,

Janet Reynolds - Principal

Dear Mel,

As the new school year approaches we are trying to complete our computer lab. Again we want to thank you and your team for making our dream a reality. Any assistance that is needed from Robert is no problem, just send and tell us when and where. We wish you and the organization all the best, as we continue to look forward to future partnership.

-Shenee

Editor’s note: The above email is in response to a request by RCI asking Robert Swaby (Shenee’s son) for help in setting up computers once school reopened this past month.

Donations: Educational Equipment and Materials

Donations: Monitary

Presentations

Presidents' Councils

• Areas 11, 12 & 13
• Areas 14 & 15

Rotary Clubs of...

• Oregon
• Fostoria
• Marion
• North Baltimore

Partnering with Books 4 Buddies

Below is an email from Laneta Goings, Jefferson Award Winner and Co-founder and President of Books 4 Buddies, to John Fedderke, Rotary Club of Toledo Rotarian. The email updates him on their recent work to improve literacy in Toledo and throughout the world. Please check out their Books-4-Buddies website: books4buddiestoledo.com

John,
As we zigzag across our economically challenged and under-served neighborhoods, Books 4 Buddies, book ambassadors, have been met over and over with excitement from kids to parents to teachers as books are given away. On the faces of kids and adults alike, are smiles, joy, excitement and laughter. Recently, one child said, he was so happy to get our books because the few that were available to him had been read over and over again.
Last year, our inaugural year, thousands of books were given to kids, agencies, kids attending camps, churches and numerous local non-profits. In a spirit of education for global responsibility, several thousand books were given to the Rotarian's for their International educational initiative.
The partnership between Rotarians and Books 4 Buddies literary campaign is powerful and mutually beneficial as we share resources to support and uplift others.
Once again, within the next few days, thousands of books will be given to the Mel Honig and Rotarian's for distribution.
On behalf of Books 4 Buddies, we look forward to a long-lasting relationship.

Best regards, Laneta Goings, President/Co-Founder.

Learning from Other Countries: The Women’s Centre Of Jamaica Foundation

During RCI’s June mission to Jamaica one of the sites we supported was the Women’s Center on the outskirts of Savanna-La-Mar.  The original concept: ‘The Programme for Adolescent Mothers’ was started in January 1978.  Since then the original site in Kingston has expanded to 7 main Centres and 8 Outreach Stations with the mission to provide academic instruction, counseling, skill training, family planning and parenting skills.  It is now know by the name Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) and operates as a Limited Liability Company.

Paraphrasing the mission of the WCJF, this program tries to mitigate the problems of teen pregnancy with support for the teen parents (both mother and father) through continued education, counseling and sanctuary for mother and child.  The end aim is to have young parents become responsible and productive members of society and insure the safety and well being of their child.

The Rotary Club of Savanna-La-Mar has asked us to provide support to the WCJF, especially the mothers who don’t have the resources to cloth their infants.  The picture below was taken when I visited the Women’s Centre in June.

Everything is clean and neat but what are lacking are objects for the children to see and feel. RCI will be collecting infant toys and clothing so that these children can progress in a stimulating environment: more later!

Robert Swaby helping set up some of the equipment donated to the Women’s Centre.