JCI holds week of activities to commemorate 56th anniversary

The Helping Hands Centre at New Montrose last week received a donation from Junior Chamber International (JCI) in commemoration of the 56th anniversary of JCI SVG.

Last week’s donation of toiletries was just one activity in a week of celebrations, which ran from July 12 to 18 and included church attendance and a bingo night fund-raiser.{{more}} The donation was received by Junior Bacchus, president of the Association of People with Disability, who expressed his deep gratitude.

The activities were also held to mark the 100th anniversary of JCI International. In recognition of the centenary of the world body, 100 food baskets will be distributed islandwide to the shut-in.

At the handing over ceremony and press conference, which took place on July 16, JCI past president Philip Cambridge said the organization aids in the development of young people to create positive change and better leaders.

“We need to have leaders who are well rounded, leaders of quality who can produce and that’s what the organization can provide for young people.”

Giving a brief history of the organization, Cambridge said JCI operates within a system similar to the graduation process of the educational system, in which you can graduate from JCI SVG to JCI West Indies then the international parent body to represent a region.

The local chapter was started in 1959 by Philip Greaves and the organization has contributed to several projects, including the construction of the clinic at Fancy.

JCI SVG recruits members within the age range of 18-40 and in order to be recruited, a person must attend three general meetings and participate in a project geared towards uplifting the community.

JCI offers training in emotional intelligence and general meeting organization and experiences, such as travel and networking, that grant young people the opportunity to explore and understand foreign cultures.

JCI West Indies encompasses chapters from Guyana to Jamaica and offers recruits of JCI SVG the opportunity to interact with members of other Caribbean countries at its West Indies convention, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from October 13 to 16, 2015.

The headquarters of JCI St Vincent and the Grenadines is located at Stoney Ground. The organization may be contacted via their Facebook page JCI St Vincent.(AS)