I am deeply gratified by the enthusiasm shown across the world in the past year to better support the mental health needs of each other and the people we serve.
In January 2023 when I first spoke about the need for Rotary to become more engaged on this crisis, I noted that the global mental health system couldn't be described as broken only because it didn't exist. But I also offered a highly aspirational wish that Rotary could help build that system.
The first glimmers of this vision have been brought to light by you in dozens of mental health projects. But just as important is the invitation many of you have given to fellow Rotary members to share their stories.
This year, the annual Rotary District 7030 Conference was hosted in beautiful St. Vincent and the Grenadines🇻🇨 under the theme "Sharing Hope", where over 300 Rotarians, Partners in Service, and friends of Rotary met to fellowship, exchange ideas, and celebrate the spirit of Rotary in our community.
At our Opening Ceremony, we were especially honoured to have been joined by Rotary International's President Representative Carmen Martinez Mejia de Villalta and Featured Speaker Rotarian Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid of the Rotary Club of Kingston, who shared inspirational messages of hope.
To relive the moments and memories, check out the link below for the full-length recording.
ROTARY CLUB OF BARBADOS NCD PROJECT MAKES WAVES WITH FREE HEALTH CHECKS MARCH 2024
The Rotary Club of Barbados embarked on a pioneering mission to address Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) by offering comprehensive health checks across all parishes in Barbados. This initiative encompassed a range of vital tests, including blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol screenings, among others, all provided free of charge.
Having already reached over 1000 individuals, the project has proven its efficacy in bringing essential health services to many individuals. Beyond the screenings, the Rotary Club of Barbados is actively engaging with locals, disseminating crucial information about NCD prevention and management.
Recognizing the need for comprehensive action, the Rotary Club of Barbados also partnered with the Ministry of Health & Wellness and five corporate organizations—Ross University School of Medicine, Sagicor Life Inc, The Bayview Hospital Ltd, the Emergency Room Inc, and Riomed Ltd—to scale up community-based screening, advocacy, awareness, and sensitization efforts. This collaboration underscores the shared commitment towards NCD prevention and control, including addressing childhood obesity.
Moreover, the project extended its reach into schools, educating the younger generation about healthy lifestyle choices and early detection methods. By fostering awareness and providing tangible support, the Rotary Club of Barbados is not only addressing immediate health needs but also laying the groundwork for a healthier future.
This concerted effort underscores the club's unwavering commitment to the well-being of Barbadians, demonstrating the impactful role service organizations can play in fostering community health and resilience.
ROTARY CLUB OF PORT OF SPAIN WEST - THE RIVER PLASTICS EXTRACTION PROJECT
The Rotary Club of Port of Spain West (RCPOSW) is a Rotary Club in Trinidad and Tobago established in 1976 with over 50 members. Over our 46-year history, RCPOSW has developed and executed numerous projects serving the Trinidad and Tobago community. We have always prided ourselves in finding innovative ways to maximize the impact of our projects on the communities around us and it was no different when our club decided to do a project that focuses on the environment. Our club wanted the project to be not only impactful in a real and significant way, not only addressing a serious environmental issue but also find a way to have the project positively impact the communities involved. We choose to tackle a problem facing Trinidad and Tobago: Plastic Pollution in our rivers.
TheRCPOSW River Plastic Extraction Project was then developed by our club to tackle this pressing problem in a real substantive way by finding a method to physically extract plastic pollution out of a river and then dispose of it responsibly. This was done by deploying a river boom across the Maraval River in Port of Spain, Trinidad. To fund this project, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) gave RCPOSW US$35,000 to develop and test this river plastic extraction system.
On October 17th, 2023, the RCPOSW officially launched this project by deploying the boom across the Maraval River. The river boom has been cleaned several times, including one conducted during a visit by the District Governor of 7030 Mr. Brian Glasgow. To date, the project has extracted over 700lbs of waste from the Maraval River.
All plastic extracted from the river goes towards an NGO that uses the plastic to produce building materials that will keep the plastic out of the environment for years to come. Our project has been a resounding success, and we hope to expand the project to other rivers throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
ROTARY CLUB OF POINTE-A-PITRE RECOGNIZES FELLOW ROTARIAN
The Rotary Club of Pointe a Pitre in Guadaloupe celebrates Rotarian Christophe Galle who is now a Major Donor by making a one-time donation of $10,000 to the Annual Fund.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DG'S VISIT TO ROTARY CLUB OF POINTE-A-PITRE
