The Rotary Club of Barbados, under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency, Dame Sandra Mason, GCMG, DA, QC, Governor General, recognized four unsung heroes at its annual Pride of Workmanship Awards Dinner (POWA) held on October 17th. As in the past, this year’s honourees personify Rotary International’s motto: “Service Above Self.”
A major area of focus for Rotary International is Disease Prevention and Treatment and the Rotary Club of Barbados has chosen to raise awareness of Diabetes as well as the need for blood and organ donation. It is therefore fitting that Rotary honour representatives of the Diabetes Association, the Diabetes Foundation, and the Barbados Blood Collection Centre along with the top Blood Donor.
During his welcome remarks, the President of the Rotary Club of Barbados, Peter Williams, noted that the individuals being recognized have dedicated themselves daily to the betterment of our society, often without any recognition. He appealed to everyone present to give of themselves to improve the lives of others – specifically to save a life by giving blood and by joining the fight against diabetes. He ended by thanking the corporate sponsors who generously supported the event.
Featured speaker and one of this year’s Honourary Rotarians, Krystal Boyea, gave a moving speech recounting her journey with Type 1 Diabetes from the day of her diagnoses at age 11 to today, where she provides advice and support to persons living with the disease. She commended the Honourees for the work they are doing and provided words of encouragement to all using her life as an example.
The event was of high standard and welcomed a number of participating sponsors from corporate Barbados. Total amount raised was BBD32K, 100% of which will go towards purchasing of equipment for the Diabetes Foundation, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Barbados National Blood Bank.
Our 2019 Honourees:
Keva Mae Sobers is a Diabetes Specialist Nursing Officer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Working within the clinic at the hospital, she is involved in the on-going training of health care professionals and makes wider contributions to Diabetes education and management as a member of the Diabetes Association of Barbados, the National Diabetes Education Task Force and the Diabetic Foot Care Committee.
Sandie Belle has been an educator for the past twenty-three years. She is currently the Head of the Business Studies Department at the Springer Memorial Secondary School. In 2009, she took over as the camp coordinator for Camp Pride, a camp for children living with Type 1 Diabetes. Sandie has grown Camp Pride to a two-week camp, with an average of twenty-two children living with Type 1 diabetes. Along with our Club’s Honorary Rotarian Krystal Boyea, they educate, and guide the children they encourage the children to live life to their fullest and meet the challenge of managing their disease.
Anderlene Sealy has been Senior Blood Technician at the Barbados National Blood Bank for over 18 years. Anderlene and her team have provided sterling and dedicated service over the years and have saved countless lives. She has seen firsthand the benefits to society of donating blood, and encourages that we not only donate when someone close to us needs it, but become lifelong donors and help improve the reserves at the blood bank.
Persons as young as 17, and as old as 70 can give blood.
John "Ricky" Wilson is a scholar, environmentalist, Sustainable Development Consultant, and Barbados’ top blood donor. He has donated 115 units of blood since 1980, surpassing the previous top donor,
Dr. Terry Meek who donated 103 units. Ricky started giving blood at the age of 18 when a fellow student was involved in a serious car accident and needed blood urgently.
History - Pride of Workmanship Awards:
In 1986, then President Dr. Grenville Phillips introduced the POWA to encourage pride in personal, and professional performance in the workplace, and to help create a positive change in national attitude and culture for the benefit of our country. In Rotary year 2001-02, during President Algie Leacock’s year, then Director Roger Smith revamped the POWA and recognized PSV (ZR Drivers), Sanitation Service (Dustmen) and Postal Workers.
Since then, honorees have included: School Meal Workers, Home Help Assistants, National Council for Substance Abuse, Coalition Against Substance Abuse, persons working with the Special Olympics, National Conservation Commission Beach Facility Attendants, Grantley Adams International Airport Porters, Children Homes Caregivers, Primary School Track Coaches, Differently-abled individuals, persons who care for the differentlyabled, volunteers and mentors, persons who contribute to mother and child care, trailblazing millennials, and male role models who are making a differencein the lives of at risk boys.
About Rotary and Disease Fighting Programmes:
Rotary is the oldest service club in the world uniting over 1.2 million individuals into a cohesive force for good. The most notable example at the global level is the three decade fight to eradicate polio. When Rotary launched the PolioPlus programme in 1985, more than 350,000 people were afflicted with polio every year in 125 countries. Last year there were 33 cases of polio worldwide. The battle is not over and our Club continues to support the international effort.
Rotary is a unifying force, promoting peace, diversity and inclusion, while helping to eradicate disease and remove hunger and poverty. Rotary gives hope. Rotarians take action.
