I've been back from Montego Bay for two weeks and still can't get these girls out of my mind. Saturday, July 9, was a day I will never forget. This day holds vivid memories of the girls that just want a chance to grow up, have a family and live in a country of peace. I thought I had mentally prepared myself for this, but I guess I didn't have a clue. I thought of my interactions with the Prevent Child Abuse-Augusta when I served on the board and all the things those involved tried to do to make it better for the children that were abused in Augusta. This project was another eye opener for me. As you enter, you think you are entering a detention center. One gate opens to allow a car while the second gate stays locked until those in the vehicle are identified. A guard stays right out front and several others around the perimeter along the fence. At the top of the fence is rolled barbed wire. But this is not a detention center, the girls have not done anything wrong except be in the wrong place with the wrong people. All these young girls, ages 8-19, have been abused. Many of them with child curiosities and others withdrawn while we are there. This facility has been protecting the young girls of Montego Bay for 10 years.
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2016-17 District Governors, President John Germ, Barry Rassin and local
Rotarians help bring a little peace to the girls at Granville. |
We had an opportunity to paint a new table and benches that would be placed under a huge shade tree for these young girls to enjoy. While many were busy with painting and planting, some took time to spend with the girls. I'm so proud to be part of this class of District Governors. Not only did they get the job done, but the spouses that were with us also put in their time and talent!! I'm so proud to be a Rotarian.
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| This area was tranformed with the help of many hands! |
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| Michelle is painting part of the bench. |
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| District Governors Lance Young and Mike Chapman work on the table and benches. |
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| Many of us were working and honored to be part of this project. |
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President John Germ led the way once again! I have much respect for this man. He never stopped but stayed
with us until the project was complete! Thank you so much President John Germ. His lovely wife, Judy,
was right there with us as well. What an amazing couple that truly serves humanity.
The theme this year is PERFECT! |
I won't have any photos of the girls that live here because many of them have been placed because of the abuse they endured. Many of them are in a protection program and their identities have to be protected. But I can tell you they have many dreams of girls the same age right here in Georgia. We were given of a list of things that the home needed. We even made a trip to a local "mart" on the way back to the hotel from our hospital visit on Friday.
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Bags of donated items to be handed out to the girls living at Granville.
District 6920 donated sets of sheets, toothbrushes, soap, lotion, femine products,
bandages, and more. |
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| Sorting of items that were purchase to make individual bags for the girls. |
As I finished some painting, I made my way inside the "commons area" where the girls were hanging out. I walked up to a group of girls talking with Rotarians, a few of the girls were drawn to my classmates daughters that joined us on the trip, and some were very withdrawn. As I stood at the end of the table, I laid my sunglasses down on the table. Right away the young girl, I won't use her name, grabbed my glasses and started to look at them like she wanted to put them on. I took my camera and laid it down to show her how to put on my glasses and she quickly put the sunglasses down and picked up my camera. She was turning it and looking at it as if she had never seen anything like it before. I put the strap around her neck and asked her if she wanted to take a photo. A smile appeared that generated so much joy so we had to walk out to take a few photos. She quickly took me to the back to see some of her friends.
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The entrance to the school and dorm area where the girls spend most of their time.
Photo taken by one of the girls. |
When I walked out back with her she wanted to take another photo but of the girls. I told her that we couldn't take photos of the girls. But what I did see I will never forget. Just like the shaded walk way above, there was a long area next to the building that was shaded and several girls were laying on the concrete sleeping because it was cooler. It was heart breaking to see them laying on the concrete. But what was harder, was to try and explain why we couldn't take a photo of her friends. She was so excited to see the photo above on the camera, she wanted to take more. She reached up and started to touch my hair. She took her fingers and rubbed strands of hair together and said "pretty". My eyes started to water as I just looked in her eyes and saw the innocence of this young girl. To know that her eyes have seen more of this horrific world that she should have been protected from tugged at my heart. I asked her if she wanted to go out front to take more photos of the work that was being done. She nodded yes. She grabbed another young girl as we walked out where Rotarians were busy trying to brighten up a place these girls could retreat to for a little peace.
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| Although they are all painful to read, this one tugs really hard. |
It was hard to leave, but there is some peace knowing that we transformed a place for these girls to retreat to for some meditiation. And thank you for the Rotary Clubs in 7020 for allowing our District Governor Class of 2016-17, along with President John and his wife, Judy, to be part of something so special. This is what these special girls can enjoy and know that it was done with love, sweat and tears just for them.
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| Presenting a check from his district in North Carolina!! Way to go Tom! |
Two days in a row of Rotary Serving Humanity! What started out as just a thought two years ago has turned into one class of District Governors making a difference in those in Zones 33/34. I think many of us will agree, we started our year off just the way we wanted to by working as a group. In the words of our Rotary International President John Germ we are the All Star Team and with TEAM: Together Each Accomplishes More!
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A Peace Garden - May many lives be changed under this shade tree. May the lives of these young
girls heal and may they feel the love that went into creating this space for them. |
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The finished product placed in the Peace Garden.
Hopefully, many the children that sit on these benches will feel peace, love and hope!
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As Rotarians in District 6920, we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the young men that are housed at Broken Shackle Ranch. These young men have been referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Family and Children Services. Don't forget to sign up for the All Star Seminar on July 30th! Bring the items listed on the district webpage! You too can make a difference in a young child that can change their life forever! This is what we are doing this year during 2016-17: Rotary Serving Humanity!
#RotaryAllStars
#100ActsofGood
#Rotary6920
Pam Lightsey
2016-17 District Governor
www.rotarypamlightsey.com
