After nearly two months of planning and preparation, friends and members of the Rotary Clubs of East Nassau, Bahamas and the Rotary Club of Joplin, Missouri, USA, partnered in a Rotary International Community Service Project.
The Rotarians spent a weekend at Project Read where they successfully renovated a staircase, and built a new entrance to the building, ultimately making it a safer place. According to Brian Moodie, Chairman of Project Read, “The difficulty some of our tutors and students had climbing the existing spiral staircase was preventing them from access the facilities at Project Read.”
When Project Read Administrator Arthurlue Rahming appealed to local Rotarians for help, they didn’t let her down. They couldn’t. The Rotarians see their work at Project Read far from over, though. They still want to improve plumbing and renovate the restroom facilities, install a computer server system, replace window shades, repair and re-supply the reading labs, and refurbish other areas of the facility. “The long-range effects of their work will be evident to students for years to come, but more importantly, the example set by Rotary will live in our hearts forever.” says Moodie.
Rotarians donated much more than money to the project, they also gave hours of “sweat equity,” as Moodie puts it. Construction-savvy club members and Rotarians from Missouri, USA traveled to the Bahamas to help with the renovations at Project Read. The visiting and local Rotarians worked in the sweltering heat. They came armed with hammers, drills, electrical saws, cement, wood, as well as the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Tool Van. Beyond the service of these Rotarians, and the dedicated effort by these Rotarians, several local companies generously donated materials and equipment for the project. A special thank you is given to Pinder Enterprises for their support and generosity.
Reflecting on the outstanding success of this project, and long term commitment by the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Brian Moodie, Chairman of Project Read issued this comment: “We are proud to have been involved with this most worthwhile of projects to help build a new entrance and safer staircase for the students, tutors, and employees. We hope that our modest project will help encourage more people to utilize the free services of Project Read”.
If you would like to volunteer or know someone who wants to learn to read or improve their reading skills, please contact Project Read at 394-2426 or visit the website at www.projectreadbahamas.com. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Project Read, established in 1991, by the Rotary Club of East Nassau has been in existence for most of the present decade and has assisted thousands of Bahamians. Project Read brings together persons wishing to improve their reading skills with voluntary literacy tutors whose work is to help improve the lives of many who struggle with inadequate literacy skills so that they may progress in their jobs, read to their children, follow a newspaper article or simply enjoy a novel. Students learn practical lessons that give them the confidence and skills, helping them to excel. Once paired with a tutor, lessons are held privately, one-on-one, in a place of the tutor’s and clients’ mutual agreement.
Founded in 1905, Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians who are members of some 31,000 Rotary clubs in more than 165 countries.
By: Michele Rassin
Past President, Rotary Club of East Nassau
