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Program Details:
A NEW SERVICE
ORGANIZATION
Saint Lucia’s newest
service organization, the Optimist de Ste. Lisi, has double cause for
celebration. Formed in February this year, the Club is off to a
spectacular launch next month, having submitted the successful
proposal to the Digicel’s Caring Connections.
The Optimists de Ste. Lisi is the Saint Lucia chapter of Optimists
International (OI), an international civic organization whose motto is
“Bringing out the Best in Kids”. OI is one of the world’s largest and
most active service organizations, with more than 115,000 members in
3500 clubs across North America and the Caribbean. OI, through its
several projects such as Youth Appreciation Week, the OI Junior Gold
Championships, oratorical contests, essay competitions and
communications contests for the deaf and hearing-impaired, reaches
more than six million youth each year in an effort to stimulate their
development and to foster positive images for them to emulate.
The members of the local chapter of the organization come from diverse
backgrounds and disciplines for the sole purpose of advancing the
interests of the youth of this Saint Lucia. Indeed, the Club’s motto
is “Building Youth, Promoting Community, Developing a Nation”. With
such a raison d’etre, it is easy to see the congruence between the
Club’s proposed activities and Digicel’s promotion of “Strong Youth,
Strong Communities”. The winning submission, “Jump Rope Programme and
Competition” will strive to lure youth from non-productive,
potentially dangerous distractions and engage them in a wholesome,
positive activity to improve the body and ultimately the spirit.
In addition to a commitment of service to the Boys’ Training Centre
and to the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education (CARE),
the Optimists de Ste; Lisi plan to undertake projects which include
the provision of shelter for a family of ten (eight of whom are
children) and a supervised after-school care facility for children in
need. A number of fund-raisers are in the offing to underwrite the
expenses of these projects.
The Club is led by a President, Ms. Jacqueline Massiah, who is
supported by a Treasurer - Ms. Christine Henry, a Secretary - Ms.
Joanne Massiah, two Vice-Presidents - Ms. Lucy JnCharles and Ms.
Rosalind Alexander, and four Directors – Mesdames Brenda Sanchez,
Simone Christian, Marsha Smith and Elena Plummer. Optimists de Ste.
Lisi meet on the first and third Friday of each month at Auberge
Seraphine, Vigie, at 6 p.m. |
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