OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Life-saving heart surgery for children, providing skills training for youngsters who roam the streets of Negril, and building domestic violence intervention centres are just some of the projects that Rotarians across Jamaica have engaged in over the years, and they plan to do a lot more.

That was a commitment given when they gathered at Rotary’s inter-club assembly at Hibiscus Lodge Hotel in Ocho Rios last Saturday. It was the first time, since the COVID-19 pandemic, that they were meeting face to face in such large numbers, and they took the time to look back at all that has been accomplished over the last three years.

Among these is the Rotary Club of New Kingston’s partnership with the Rotary Club of Lake Norman to donate a global grant of US$95,250 to fund 36 heart surgeries for children at Bustamante Hospital for Children.

“Providing heart surgery for our little children here in Jamaica through the Bustamante Children’s Hospital was such a joy,” said assistant governor elect and past president of the Rotary Club of New Kingston, Petagaye Pryce.

The project, she said, was started in 2019 but came to a halt due to unforeseen circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. They were, however, able to complete their agenda throughout 2021 to 2022.

“Thanks to the donations made through the Rotary Foundation we have been able to assist these children with their various heart surgeries,” Pryce stated.

“After the surgeries we also follow up with the children, and they have been doing well and the parents are also forever grateful. We are hoping to take on another project in March to assist another five to nine children,” she added.

The gathering has given Rotarians renewed energy.

“We have had online meetings but nothing like this energy. The whole reason for this is for us to reconnect with our fellow Rotarians and also to be recommitted to our purpose of serving humanity,” incoming district governor for Rotary’s Jamaica chapter (2023 to 2026), William Aiken told the Jamaica Observer.

Also during the event, assistant governor in charge of Rotary Club Negril, Elaine Allen-Bradley enthusiastically gave details about a US$135,000 global grant she got through partnership with the Rotary Club of Calgary North to fund a project in the resort town.

In an attempt to find meaningful ways to engage youth who are often seen on the streets of Negril, Allen Bradley and members of a church in the area retrofitted trailers into classrooms. Now called the Theodora Skills Training Centre, it is being operated by HEART/NSTA Trust.

“Theodora was set up to get the youngsters off the streets of Negril. They needed something rather than being on the streets, and the Rotary Club of Negril played a great part in getting everything started,” said Allen-Bradley.

A portion of the donation was also used to give one classroom a tech upgrade.

“We decided to bring them up to speed by giving them a smart classroom, and the youth were so fascinated,” Allen Bradley stated.

“Persons at any age can be enrolled in the school, free of cost, because we Rotarians are funding [it]. They are being offered several courses in bartending and other hospitality-related fields so that they can go into the hotel [sector], as Negril is tourism-based,” she added.

Rotarians have also opted to play their part in mitigating the incidences of domestic-related crimes. In 2021 Rotary Club of Manor Park built two domestic violence prevention centres in St Thomas.

According to Assistant District Governor Yasmin Chong, who is in charge of Manor Park, the club decided to build centres in Lyssons and Morant Bay after statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) revealed that the eastern parish records the most domestic-related crimes.

“In our country today, unfortunately, there is a high prevalence of domestic violence — especially among women and children. Women in particular are very scared to report these instances of domestic violence so the Rotary Club of Manor Park in 2021 partnered with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to provide them with two domestic violence intervention centres in the parish of St Thomas,” said Chong.

Since the opening of the 24-hour-operated centres, she said, more people have been making reports and seeking assistance.

“The report from JCF is that since the centres were opened the community members have been reporting cases of domestic violence. This is a good thing because they were coming from zero, where persons were afraid to report, to now making the centres a safe space,” Chong added.

In the near future the Rotary Club is hoping to provide additional parishes with domestic violence prevention centres.

“We are looking to partner to put in more centres around the island,” said Chong.