Rotary Club in Canada gives helping hand

Several learning institutions here and other groups are being presented with a range of items originating from Canada.

The Rotary Club of Orleans in Ottawa, Canada says it’s again partnering with the Rotary club of Dominica to assist the island, and this time around has shipped 208 boxes of books and teaching supplies, including sewing material and notions to Dominica.

One of the key people behind the initiative is Venezuelan Carmen Larsen-Grijalva, the daughter of the Venezuelan ambassador to Dominica.

Orleans Rotarian Larsen-Grijalva says the efforts have strong support from the Rotary Club here and the Alpha Centre.

This latest initiative follows a 2011 effort when US$15,000.00 worth of books and resources were provided to assist in the development of autistic children.

The 2012 batch of goods which include a significant number of books is benefiting some 18 groups here, the majority of them primary schools, as well as  the Alpha Centre, the Dominica Red Cross, the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Old Mill Cultural Centre, the Alliance Francaise, Alcoholics Anonymous Dominica and the public library.

In the case of the Alpha Centre, that institution has signaled its intention to initiate an after school remedial programme with the academic books it has received.

Larsen-Grijalva told DNO that she expects the Canadian Rotary Club to continue providing assistance to educational institutions in Dominica, and they hope to make available even more specific and wide-ranging assistance to benefit the island and its people.