Rotary Club of Lucea focuses on improving education standards in Hanover

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Education and entrepre-neurship in the parish of Hanover will be the main focus of the Rotary Club of Lucea under the leadership of the new president, Lennox Anderson-Jackson. He said he will do his best to carry out the mandate and lead his team.

"We should not wait on the Ministry of Education to do everything where education is concerned. The Rotary Club of Lucea was charted in 1974. I realise education has been one of the priorities, and as the president of the club, I have to continue that tradition," Anderson-Jackson stated.

He was speaking at the annual presidential installation and dinner last Saturday at the Grand Palladium Hotel in Hanover. Jackson took over the presidency from Marvetta Stewart-Richards.

The parish of Hanover has one of the highest figures of illiteracy and the Rotarian and his team are hoping to put a dent in that statistic.

MAXIMISING POTENTIAL

"We look at children as future leaders and so we have to try and do what we can, whether by improving on the school buildings, or providing books and scholarships, we have to play our role. Such effort can take children a far way in realising their potential," the president further outlined.

Each year, the club gives primary- and tertiary-education scholarships, known as the George Harper Scholarship, and is also involved in a literacy programme at the Hanover Parish Library.

"It's hard for many persons in the community to get to the next level, and if you can lend a hand also in the area of entrepreneurship that, too, will help develop the communities and families," he added.

According to the new president, several business people in the parish do not mind lending a hand to the Rotary Club, and he shares the view that if more businesses can be created, it can go a far way in helping the parish develop and come into its own."

Throughout his tenure, the club will continue the George Harper Scholarship, to do clean-up and beautification projects across the parish, recognise outstanding community personnel, conduct entrepreneurship and health forums, improve maternal health at the Noel Holmes Hospital, and continue the maintenance of the Chambers Pen Basic School.