ROTARIANS ARE CLOSER to realising their dream of providing Barbados’ children with an inclusive play facility.
The play park will provide a new opportunity for physically-challenged children to interact with children who don’t have challenges in an environment which caters to special needs.
This was disclosed to district governor for the OECS, Barbados, Trinidad and the Guyanas, Elwin Atmodimedjo, today when he visited the site at the Garfield Sobers Wildey sports complex where the million-dollar playground and support building will be constructed.
Atmodimedjo is on an official tour of the region and Rotary presidents Horace Cobham of Rotary Club of Barbados West, Richard Kennedy of Rotary Barbados South and Alex Mc Donald of the Rotary Club of Barbados along with Che Waithe, president of Rotaract South – the youth arm of Rotary – showed him Rotary projects across Barbados.
The inclusive play facility is a joint project between Rotary club of Barbados West and Rotary Club of Barbados South. Kennedy said ground-breaking to start construction on the 25 000 square foot Wildey site will take place in a matter of weeks.
Kennedy said Rotary was in an advanced stage of completing the lease for the land which is owned by Government.
Meanwhile, the financial support from several businesses, the fund-raising efforts of Rotary clubs and personal input by individual Rotarians in their professional capacity, have resulted in over $800 000 already being raised.
The district governor was impressed with the projects he saw in Barbados and commended Rotarians here for doing “some wonderful work.”
Atmodimedjo saw the playground as “an enrichment for the community as well as for Barbados” saying the playground would give added value to the quality of life for Barbados’ children. He commended the local Rotarians for their level of service and commitment. (GC)
