I wondered if the Women's Organisation for the Under Privileged knew that the United Nations had declared the year 2001 as "International Year of Volunteers" when they sent me an update on their volunteering achievements in the year 2000.
It was Velma Jardine's address delivered to the Annual General Meeting of the Soroptimist Club of Port of Spain, last week, on "The Role of the Volunteer" which made me aware that the United Nations Family was recognising December 5 as Volunteer Day in this the Year of Volunteers.
WOUP, a group of just about 15 women continue to help those less fortunate than themselves through their most popular, annual Men Who Cook fund-raiser which continues to be a resounding success and will again take place on Saturday May 26, and also an October Brunch and Fashion Show, has through the generosity of individual and corporate donors been able to extend their fund in 2000 to include assistance to children of secondary school age, making a total of 57 assisted children as compared to 24 primary school children in 1999.
The Soroptimists, a much larger body of women, one of many non- governmental organisations doing volunteer work in this country, were told by Jardine that more than 100 organisations are all voluntarily doing various forms of volunteering, be it environmental clean-ups, sporting events, neighbourhood watch you call it - they are doing it.
"When you think of it, it gestures goodwill, help and encouragement which really make the world go round - when so much news is sad or bad, this good news is well worth hearing. Help for one's neighbour is part of the tradition of every society and civilisation, it brings out the very best in men and women - and some inspirational stories as well.... A sense of community, of participation and solidarity, or caring and most importantly LOVE is more than ever vital today."
Jardine, a past Soroptimist president, felt that "at this time when in the so-called developing countries we are trying to come to terms with our own indigenous culture and achievements, as we seek to make the best possible use, as we understand it, of the technological and sophisticated procedures of the western world. In order to remember the indigeneous culture of T&T, the country has been distinguished by a natural propensity of mutual self-help, voluntary and generous "GAYAP" ...The "Sou Sou" bank is also one of the distinguished capacity of efficient community participation based on mutual trust and self respect."
Jardine, a mother of six, who has been principal of her own Stenotype College for many years, is convinced that "it is here in the area of self- respect and self-confidence, our contemporary generation has broken down, so that those of us who grew up in the traditions of Gayap and Sou Sou are somewhat bewildered by the proliferation of crime and violence; while systematic mauvais langue has now become fashionable among the young and the not so young."
"WOMEN are our concern for community help; WOMEN have to take the initiative to re-introduce step by step the basic elements and spiritual tennets which underlie 'sou sou' and 'gayap' culture, especially among our children."
She pointed out to the Soroptimists that "groups and associations like yourselves are in constant need for renewal from within .... it is up to each and everyone of you to realise that continual renewal of your organistion is your business....The time is now for a Soroptimist effort directed towards internal Trinidad and Tobago development. The time is right to reach out to actively co-operate with other groups and organisations. Time to make the high levels of Soroptimist International's experience and expertise available throughout this land of ours."
Jardine threw out the challenge that Soroptimist plan a programme to include other organisations and celebrate Volunteer Day on December 5, 2001. And for the club to be the catalyst and set up a Volunteer Centre and promote useful and working partnerships between two to three countries in the region...that way it would help to recognise the "Role of Volunteers' in the region, highlighting the work and impact of volunteer action.