Helping Out!

Living here in Grenada has proved to be simply amazing in so many ways! Not only does Dave get the chance to get a fantastic medical education at a global university, but we also get to spend about two and a half years of our lives learning about another culture, meeting interesting people from all over the world, and truly making a difference in many lives.

One job that I have taken on while living down here is being the volunteer coordinator (working with my dear friend Michelle) for the Significant Others' (SO) Board of St. George's University (SGU). We're responsible for arranging and coordinating all the service projects for the SOs. This term, we have already been working with the following groups:

Queen Elizabeth Home for Children

(http://www.definitivecaribbean.com/Charity/QueenElizabethHomeforChildren.aspx)

The Dorothy Hopkin Centre for the Disabled

(http://www.dorothyhopkincentre.com/)

The Grenada Project/The Goat Dairy

There is a non-profit group at Belmont Estate teaching the local community how to raise goats and make goat cheese for sale.

REACH Grenada

This organization aims to enhance the well-being and to promote the continual growth and healing of Grenada's children by providing expertise and resources in the areas of recreation, education, agriculture, community and health.

(http://www.reachgrenada.org/oursupporters.php)

The Program for Adolescent Mothers (PAM)

When a teenage girl gets pregnant in Grenada, she is not allowed to complete school. PAM allows these girls to finish their education and learn how to care for their babies. We are working with the SGU Women in Medicine Organization on workshops, fundraisers, etc. to help them refurbish some of their classrooms.

International Coastal Cleanup Organization

The Limes After-School Program

The program was started by Ann Hopkin in 2003 to reach less-privileged children in the Limes area, in partnership with the U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and local teachers. The goal of the program is to help further the kids' education, build self-worth, and spread love. Ann Hopkins, a local Grenadian, is a long-time nurse and resident of New York City who retired in 2002 and returned to Grenada. She now lives and volunteers full-time on the island. In addition to her work with the Limes Program, she founded the South St. George's Welfare Association (SSGWA).http://www.servinggrenada.org. She is a very sweet woman who is full of energy. I got the opportunity to meet her a couple of weeks ago, and I truly enjoy working with her.

In action...

Last week we were informed that Mrs. Hopkins had gotten approximately six truckloads of items (clothes, hygiene kits, school kits, newborn kits, and much more) donated to the island. Last Friday, a group of us volunteered to go to the port in St. George’s, load up trucks, and then unload the trucks at a local church. We worked to unload, load, and unload approximately 300 boxes. This week we will be helping to distribute these things in the local community. Here are a few pictures of us helping out.

At the port loading the first truck

Then we went to the church to unload

...stopping for a moment to take in a beautiful view

Inside the hygiene kits (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and a hand towel)

Michelle with the donated wheelchairs

After all the hard work, we decided to treat ourselves to some delicious

nutmeg ice cream. It's my ultimate favorite!!