On Saturday, more than 450 Saint Lucians joined 115 San Diego-based volunteers to touch every corner of the Soufriere Infant and Primary Schools at the second Do Something World Saint Lucia High Impact Service (HIS) Day. The schools were greatly damaged by Hurricane Tomas, and were in need of major restoration of the buildings and grounds. Crews worked to paint, tile, build and fix structures, clear debris, cut weeds and more with supplies, tools and machinery donated from various sources. It was a significant collaboration between churches, government, civic and business leaders, and the community of Soufriere itself. Impressively, a large number of youth representing groups such as the Boys Training Centre, Youth Aflame, I Can Change A Nation and the schools themselves aided in the effort.
Pastor Kendal Augustine and members from Christ Is The Answer Church (CITAC) were heavily involved in the planning, helping to identify the schools as the HIS Day project sites and registering volunteers as they arrived. Churches from all parts of the island joined the CITAC congregants, representing a unified effort by Christians from various denominations.
“By being here, we are dispelling the perception that churches are only after people’s money. Today, they can see Christians in action helping their community, many who do not live here, with nothing expected in return,” said Augustine.
Additionally, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation (SRDF) was on-site to provide food, refreshments and building supplies. They had also done much of the mobilization around Soufriere to promote the event though radio and flyers.
“We hope to engender the spirit of volunteerism in Saint Lucia I used to see as a child but no longer experience. We have become a remote society preventing what should be a societal norm – to help each other,” commented SRDF General Manager, Dominic Alexander.
RISE Saint Lucia was another key partner for the Soufriere HIS Day and for the intensive one-week, island-wide ministry featuring the visiting volunteers. They were instrumental in bringing the case of Soufriere post Tomas forward, and also handled all logistics for the medical team throughout the week culminating with support for this HIS Day.
Furthermore, a small team of San Diego volunteers who had been working at the C.A.R.E. Centre in Soufriere all week to reverse damage there, completed the projects of installing toilets and painting the front of the school.
All in all, the day was a huge success. Sandra Prospe, Principal of the Soufriere Infant School, believes this will positively impact the education provided by the school. “This is an intervention from God. The teachers, parents and students had low morale after Tomas, but all that is being accomplished today will provide zeal to learn and work hard.”
The next High Impact Service project will take place on June 4, 2011 at the Boys Training Centre. To get involved, please visit www.dswstlucia.com and join the Do Something World Saint Lucia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dswsaintlucia.
