Built on the mantra ‘Service Above Self’, the Rotary Club of St. Andrew continues to be invested in carrying out its philanthropic duties. This year, the organisation will be focusing its efforts on assisting the less fortunate, children, the disabled and schools that are inadequately supplied with computers and tablets, according to the newly elected President, Wayne Strachan. Strachan, who has been a part of the organization for over 8 years was installed as President of the 50- year-old service club earlier this month.
In keeping with the organisation’s theme for this year, “Rotary Serving Humanity”, Mr. Strachan said that the Rotary Club of St. Andrew will continue to play its part in the development of Jamaica through the giving of service above self. Over the years, the Rotary Club of St. Andrew has focused its work on implementing projects aimed primarily at satisfying the medical, dental and optical needs of members of various underserved communities. This year, the organisation has identified three projects geared towards education, youth development and community safety and security. The three projects include refurbishing of the Traffic Department at the Constant Spring Police Station, a project to be undertaken by skilled labour from the communities surrounding the police station.
We think crime and violence is a major issue especially for the youths so we are trying to build a relationship between the youths and the security,Wayne Strachan, President- Rotary Club of St. Andrew
He added that there are a lot of young men who are sitting at home and on the corners not doing anything and sometimes crime and violence is what they seek. Strachan is confident that with support for this initiative, it will help in relation to crime especially in the St. Andrew North area.
If we get these youths to work closely with the police in getting this project completed, there might be a change,Wayne Strachan
The project is expected to cost over $3 million dollars. The other two projects will involve refitting the Constant Spring Primary and Junior High school’s computer lab and installing an air conditioning unit and library books at the Swallowfield Primary and Junior High. These projects, he said, will be funded by fundraising activities. Surplus from the 50th anniversary Installation Banquet, held on July 5 at the Pegasus will also be used to finance the organisation’s activities for the year. The event was attended by over 180 patrons. Among the attendees were Canadian High Commissioner, Sylvain Fabi and wife Jany, Lecturer at Georgia State University, Dr. John Paul Clarke, PricewaterhouseCoopers Partner, Garfield Reece, and President & CEO of Sterling Asset Management, Charles Ross.
Mr. Strachan is encouraging public and private sector organisations in Jamaica to show their continued support for Rotary and the work they do to help national development. At the end of his term, Mr. Strachan said he hopes to install a Rotary wheel at the Traffic Department to symbolize the Rotary Club of St. Andrew’s positive impact on the lives of the officers there.
The service efforts of all Rotary Clubs are concentrated in the focus areas set by Rotary International, namely, the promotion of peace through conflict resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child care; education and literacy, and economic and community development.
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