Kids from the Jamaica Christian Boys Home get a Day Out to Tour the Institute of Jamaica

by Charities

The New Kingston Rotaract Club in partnership with the Institute of Jamaica hosted marginalised boys from the Jamaica Christian Boys Home, between the ages of 7 and 17 on July 18, 2014 at the Institute of Jamaica. The children were exposed, educated and their awareness broadened, while they also got time away from their place of residence.

The activities of the day included Exhibitions of Rastafari, Equal Rights, Reggae and Social Change, National Art in Schools and a viewing of the National History Museum Discovery Room.

After the exhibitions, the boys enjoyed lunch provided by the New Kingston Rotaract Club.

As many good deeds like this often go under the radar, many Clubs and Non-Profit Organisations like the New Kingston Rotaract Club continue to work hard and serve the unfortunate selflessly, offering many opportunities for them to progress as well. Feel free to like or join the New Kingston Rotaract Club’s Facebook page, ‘New Kingston Rotaract Club’, to see what else they have in store this year and perhaps contribute to their efforts as well.

Rotaract Clubs of Kingston and Grand Turk Partner to Feed the Homeless for Labour Day

by Charities

The Care Package Giveaway Part II on Labour Day was a success. The Rotaract club of Grand Turk from the Turks and Caicos Islands assisted the Rotaract Club of Kingston in purchasing packages for the homeless. 132 packages were distributed to each homeless person seen, compared to 64 packages in Part I, where 121 were full packages containing crackers, tin food, a drink and soap and 11 were smaller packages containing tin food.

Rotaractors branched out into teams and packages were distributed by the Supreme Court, then by Duke Street and Parade, on the way to Crossroads and then all teams settled by Silver Slipper Plaza, where the remainder of the packages were distributed.

The recipients of the packages were truly grateful and a wider cross-section of persons were reached this time around.

The 8th Staging of Rotaract Club of Kingston’s Annual Inner City Art Competition

by Charities

The Rotaract Club of Kingston hosted their 8th Annual Inner City Art Competition on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at Frame Centre Gallery on Ardenne Road. The event exhibited a melting pot of expressions via painting, sculpting, drawing and the newly added category, photography, from several artists who displayed their talents, relating to this year’s theme “Set Me Free”. The Inner City Art Competition was implemented to create opportunities to educate untrained artists, ages 18 to 30 from inner city communities, as well as to publicize their artistic talents.

Ms. Amashika Lorne, Project Manager of JN Foundation’s Resolution Project facilitated the entry of a few photographic pieces from persons that are a part of the project. The Resolution Project’s main goal is the promotion of advocacy through the art of Photography amongst high school students in rural Jamaica. It was a pleasure to have them enter this year and they will be returning next year.

Patrons were entertained throughout the evening by the soothing sounds of saxophonist, Kevin Bonfield and the lively, Reggae Redemption band. They also enjoyed wine and tasteful delights provided by Steve’s catering.

The competitors were judged by Mrs. Charmaine McIntosh, curator of Frame Centre Gallery and Mr. Kori Thompson, freelance artist.

At the end of the night the winners of the competition were announced with Jason Hall’s graphic painting depicting that ‘Drugs Kill’ taking 1st place, Deneka Gooden’s photo in 2nd and Romando Roxburgh’s photo taking 3rd place. All received certificates. Jason Hall received a scholarship for a course at a tertiary institution. He will be given the option to do a course at the Edna Manley School for the Performing and Visual Arts or the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) to gain further knowledge and enhance his natural artistic skills. He received a cash prize of $10,0000JMD as well. 2nd place took home a cash prize of $5000JMD and a gift basket was given to the 3rd place winner, Romando.

Past contestant, Mr. Marvin Thompson from 2011’s competition, who placed second, was accepted into the Bachelor’s Degree Programme of Arts Education at the Edna Manley School for the Performing and Visual Arts following his summer course on scholarship from the Rotaract Club of Kingston. He is doing very well and has one year remaining. The Rotaract Club of Kingston looks forward to hearing more successful, positive stories from their past contestants and prize winners.

Club President, Sean Morgan and Director of Community Service, Pierce Ramsay were proud with the turnout of this year’s event, giving thanks to the main sponsor, Frame Centre Gallery who assisted in making the night a success.

- Jamaicaobserver.com (Monday, November 25, 2013)

Ram Goat Run

by Charities

- Jamaicaobserver.com (Monday, November 25, 2013)

– Pic taken from Jamaicaobserver.com (Monday, November 25, 2013)

The inaugural inter-parish cross-country road challenge, Ram Goat Run was held on Saturday, November 23, 2013. The ‘run’, brainchild of Sandals/ATL Group CEO Adam Stewart, was aimed at raising J$5m towards the purchase of a sterilizer for the children’s ward of the Cornwall Regional Hospital through the We Care Foundation. The sterilizer costs approximately US$60,000 and will help to save lives of thousands of children living in Western Jamaica once functioning. The We Care Foundation will donate all proceeds of the Ram Goat Run to help the pediatric ward of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The run set off from the Caymanas Golf and Polo Club in St Catherine at 8:45 am, with participants racking up points from various challenges linked to social media. Runners had to arrive at the Buccaneer’s Jerk Centre in Port Maria, St Mary by 2pm after following the route which took them from the South to North Coast via Flat Bridge, Mount Rosser and Ocho Rios. Teams then returned to the Caymanas Polo Club by 5 pm, via the Junction, Manor Park through Kingston route. The team with the most points at the end of the day was announced as winner at an after party at Caymanas Polo Club. On the return leg to St. Catherine, one of the runs objectives was to find and photograph the elusive Ram Goat. Our very own co-writer of SuGa Lifestyle, Suzanne Stanley emerged as the winner with her teammates, Michelle Ferguson and Nikolai Lewis.

Sponsors included Rainforest Seafoods, National Bakery, Wray & Nephew, Wisynco, Land Rover, Sandals, ATL Appliance Traders, Jamaica Observer, Fyah 105 FM, Fame FM, Jamaica National Building Society, CIBC, GraceKennedy, and Knightfox AppDesign.

Prizes included the Ram Goat Run Trophy; a week’s stay at an overseas Sandals or Beaches Resort or Weekend stays and day passes at Sandals Resorts, fuel vouchers, LED televisions, tablets, smartphones, spa treatments, Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours, ATL gift vouchers; and other varied sponsor prizes.