Handing Over of Playground to CDGC

 

RCGI Hands Over Playground For Children With Special Needs

The Playground with the Rotary Club of Gros Islet Banner in the Background.
 
 
From Left to Right: President of RCGI Astrid Mondesir; Director of CDGC, Dr. Kim Gardner; Parliamentary Representative for Castries North, Hon. Stephenson King; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Merline Frederick; Second Row: 3rd Secretary at the Embassy of Taiwan, Mr. Guan-Ting Lou and President of RC Saint Lucia, Selma St. Prix.
Left, Mr. Ryan Devaux, 2015 Title Sponsor - Bank of Saint Lucia International; Mr. Rhory McNamara, Director CDGC; Mr. Guan-Ting Lou, 3rd Secretry,Embassy of Taiwan, Fr. Cleophus, Lady of Fatima Church, La Clery; Dr. Merline Fredrick , Chief Medical Officer.
Some Sponsors and Guests
 
 
At a small but impressive ceremony on Thursday, July 28th, 2016 we handed over the specialized playground for children with special needs to the Child Development and Guidance Centre (Click this link for information on the CDGC).  This was a very special day for both the Centre and for ourselves.  For the Centre the playground is considered to be a critical and integral part of the facility for the rehabilitation and treatment of the children with special needs and for us, this represents one of our proudest moments as we know that we have made a significant contribution to improving the lives of these precious children.
 
PP Judy was Master of Ceremonies  and after asking Fr. Cleophus to open the proceedings with an appropriate invocation, she did an excellent job by highlighting first the work of The Rotary Foundation , an excellent video that stirred the emotions.  President Astrid highlighted the work of the Club in working for the less privileged in our society  and made mention of the invaluable support that we receive from Corporate Saint Lucia for our Annual Charity Golf Tournament  which is the source of the club's finances for charitable projects such as this one.  PP Judy then showed the video, "The Little Club that Could" which highlighted some of the work that we have engaged in over the years. 
 
Dr Kim Gardner, Director of the CDGC thanked RCGI for our contribution to the Centre and explained the purpose for which the playground is intended.  Honorable Stephenson King, Parliamentary Representative for the area made brief remarks in which he congratulated Dr. Gardner and her staff for the excellent job that they do.  He also expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Saint Lucia for the work of the Rotary Club of Gros Islet in alleviating the suffering of those less fortunate in the society.  The Minister was the first president of the Rotaract movement in Saint Lucia.  Dr Fredrick, Chief Medical Officer who is the wife of PP Timmy James of the RC Saint Lucia echoed the Ministers gratitude for the combined efforts of the CDGC and RCGI.
 
The Ribbon cutting followed and the playground was officially handed over with the blessings of Fr. Cleophus.
 
 
See all the photographs on the website Hand Over of Playground. 
The playground consists of 5 tons of rubber mulch on the ground to keep the children safe with swings, a musical wall, a slide with interactive wheels and a number of hoops and tunnels for the children to navigate thereby stimulating their minds and motor skills.