Rotary Club of St Andrew North launches ‘Arise for Life’ initiative

The Rotary Club of St Andrew North has targeted a contribution of US$32,000 (J$5,100,000) to Food For The Poor Jamaica as part of a collaborative effort to provide education and shelter for at least four families during the club’s new administrative year, beginning July 1. Of the total, US$8,000 (J$1,275,000) to be allocated to each family, US$3,000 (J$480,000) will go towards education of the children in each household. The remaining US$5,000 (J$795,000) will be the Rotary Club of St Andrew North’s contribution towards a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, with kitchenette, living/dining room, as well as a small verandah, to be built by Food For The Poor Jamaica.

Dubbed the ‘Arise for Life’ initiative, it will be club’s major project for the administrative year under the leadership of the newly installed club president, Ian Rose.

Beyond building houses

In announcing the project at the recent 38th annual installation ceremony of the club, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, President Rose said: “With funding from our donors and partners, this project can scale to even double or triple our initial target. By ensuring access to quality education for children in disadvantaged circumstances, along with habitation conducive to learning and retention, the Arise for Life project should provide people with the capacity to become independent, improved social functionaries and, eventually, net positive producers in the society. This initiative will go beyond building houses on a journey to transform the human capacity of ordinary Jamaicans.”

Guest speaker at the installation ceremony, William Mahfood, director of Food For The Poor Jamaica and chairman of the Wisynco Group, lauded the club on the partnership aimed at improving lives and relieving poverty. He noted that partnerships such as this have helped Food For The Poor, founded in 1982, to build about 37,000 houses in Jamaica and expand to now provide support for the less fortunate in 17 countries.