FOR?THE?CHILDREN:?American actress Victoria Rowell (second right), is here with Children Of The Caribbean Foundation founders Julian Adams (right) and Rosie Hodge-Adams (second left), along with board member Barbadian Anne Coppin.
FORMER?star of the YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victoria Rowell, is in Barbados as part of a project to assist the children of the Caribbean.
Rowell, 53, who spent several seasons on the popular CBS?daytime drama, is the celebrity guest for the Children Of The Caribbean Foundation, an organization established to help and guide children in foster care.
When she was 16 days old, Rowell, and with her two sisters Sheree and Lori, were surrendered to Child Services, so the African American actress was pleased to continue what she has been doing around the world for the last few years.
“I am here to offer my expertise not only in foster care, adoption child welfare, [but] as a global advocate because I have offered my skills on the west coast of Africa, South Africa, India, Russia and throughout the Caribbean,” she said.
Rowell, who recently signed up for the fast rising American television series Single Ladies, said there were millions of lost children in the world.
“I have met with the child care leadership here, and the foundation has discussed ways in which we can collaborate. We have a half-million children in foster care in the United States, and we need a tremendous amount of help, as our system is broken.
“Everywhere I have been to in the world, there is need for improvement, so all we can is to try to help each other,” she added.
Children Of The Caribbean Foundation was founded by the husband and wife team of Julian Adams and Rosie Hodge-Adams, who were among the visiting group.
“The concept behind the foundation is trying to give back to the children that we believe have been lost to society. We have developed programmes in certain areas such as education and health care,” Julian said.
In Barbados, the foundation has this week donated backpacks and school supplies to the children of Sterling and Farrs Children’s Homes in St Philip and St Peter, respectively. The Sterling Home also received a stove and a dining room set.
Adams, who hails from St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, said the foundation’s ultimate goal was to try to meet specific needs of children “all across the Caribbean, not just Barbados”.
The Children Of The Caribbean Foundation team also includes Barbadian Anne Coppin, who is a board member of the two-year-old organization.
Coppin, who resides in California, is originally from St Patrick’s, Christ Church.
The group is scheduled to return to the United States today. (MK)
