Providing steadfast service for the past 54 years

As a foundation, we know that because of Kiwanis and the great work done daily by its members, someone will have enough to eat tonight. Someone will have decent clothes to wear. Someone’s child will be able to attend school.

ITAKE great pleasure in welcoming all delegates and observers from Jamaica and other countries in the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District of Kiwanis International to this 2018 District Convention being held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I hope that your visit and participation in the convention will further strengthen the commitment to change our world one child and one community at a time. It is also my hope that you will enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Jamaican Kiwanians and people in general.

The Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica (KFJ) is firm in its commitment to facilitate the growth and strengthening of Kiwanis clubs in Jamaica. The movement in Jamaica has been providing steadfast service for the past 54 years, and many lives have been changed due to the great work done. In supporting our clubs, the foundation has been providing funding annually for Young Children Priority One projects and recognising the work of outstanding Kiwanians in our various divisions.

EXPOSURE AND TRAINING

In addition to these funding and recognition programmes, another important aspect of the foundation’s work is to provide exposure and training to Kiwanians in areas such as project planning and proposal writing. These types of capacitybuilding programmes are important in sustaining longterm maintenance of the Kiwanis movement, as well as sustaining the human and social fabric of society.

It is quite clear to us that Kiwanis must play an even more impactful role in building Jamaica. We hope to continue to influence the zeal and enthusiasm of the Kiwanian members towards this great work they do in Jamaica.

IMPACTING LIVES

As a foundation, we know that because of Kiwanis and the great work done daily by its members, someone will have enough to eat tonight. Someone will have decent clothes to wear. Someone’s child will be able to attend school. Someone will have shelter. Someone will receive medical care. Someone will learn the fundamentals of being a leader. Someone will learn the skills they need to survive and succeed. Someone knows that there’s at least one person in this world who cares.

The theme of this year’s convention, ‘Love the Vibes, Share the Spirit, Live the Experience’, seeks to combine the vibrant experience of Kiwanis with the upbeat outlook of life in Jamaica. I encourage all our visitors to look at the projects and programmes that have been executed in meeting the objectives of the movement. Indeed, Kiwanis in Jamaica has progressed because of the very positive and enthusiastic attitude that the nearly 3,000 members have displayed in performing their duties. Kiwanians have not only embraced the six objects of Kiwanis International as the blueprint to guide their operations, but have adopted them as a natural way of life.

The recognition given by Kiwanis International to the work of clubs in Jamaica is a source of great pride. This type of performance will only be sustained by the skill and vibrancy of the members and, very importantly, the increased capacity of the leaders. Thus, as the KFJ continues to assist in building the capacity of our Kiwanians, we know that the movement will continue to grow, advance and improve the services to our communities.

This world is a better place because you volunteered to be a Kiwanian, and the KFJ is sincerely thankful for it. May you all have a successful convention.

DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENT CHRIS ROBINSON President of Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica