The Cedar Grove Community is the latest beneficiary of a sewing project, the result of an ongoing collaboration between the Rotary Club of Antigua and the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown.
The launch took place at the Northern Vybz Community Centre in Cedar Grove in the presence of members of the Rotary Club of Antigua and the Bellevue Breakfast Club of Washington State and other specially invited guests.
Project Coordinator, Past President Cordel Josiah MBE, in his opening remarks indicated that the joint effort continues to provide a unique opportunity for participants to develop a skill that has the potential to make them marketable and profitable.
President of the Northern Vybz Community Group, Kareem Charles, said that the group is very pleased to be associated with the initiative which will have tremendous benefits for the community.
International Coordinator, President of Kirkland Downtown Rotary Club Jan Martinka, expressed that the Club is pleased to be associated with the project over the years. The fourteen (14) year partnership between the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club (BBRC) of Washington State District 5030; started in 2008, after two years of planning between Past District Governor Steve Lingenbrink and Past President John Martinka of the BBRC and Past President Cordel Josiah MBE of the Rotary Club of Antigua (RCA) in 2006.
Parliamentary representative for the area, the Hon. Charles “Max” Fernandez said that the Cedar Grove Community Center (CGCC) and Northern Vybes community group represents the true essence of community safe spaces.
He explained that CGCC has served the community well for over 20 years as a base for community initiatives. These initiatives include the annual back to school and children Christmas gifts distribution, as well as hurricane and food supplies storage have all taken place from the CGCC.
“To this end, I am ecstatic to help in providing a safe space for a free sewing class which will take place at the CGCC compliments the Rotary organization in collaboration with Northern Vybes.
Member of Parliament for the community, the Hon. Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, noted that he is happy to know the community center will continue to play a pivotal role in community initiatives for all. “There is no barrier when it comes to the empowerment, development and providing safe spaces for any community. The possibility of a sewing center will provide a transitional skillset which can only be of a great benefit to all involved, rest assured, of my continued support and commitment”, said MP Fernandez.
To this date 2022, the Computers for the World Project (C4W) has significantly “Improved Education through Technology”. It has provided over 5,000 computers, built over 60 fully networked computer labs in Government and Private Schools; distributed over 15,000 Usborne Illustrated Dictionaries to Grade 3 students, donated lots of school supplies to over sixty (60) schools, and also the training of over 150 teachers with over 200 more to be trained in 2022, so that they can communicate effectively with the students when teaching them with technology.
There are now nine Rotary Sewing Centers across the island.
The object of this Sewing initiative is to teach women the skill of sewing so that they can become self-sufficient, and give them the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Over four hundred (400) women have been trained to sew over these past years through this Rotary Sewing Project.
The economy of Antigua & Barbuda has benefited over ECD$5 million over the past fourteen years from this Rotary Computer and Sewing project.
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How to join this sewing classes?
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