Akron’s Rotary, Lions and Lady Lions Clubs teamed up last week by traveling to the Elizabeth Seton Nutrition Center in Bani, Dominican Republic to tackle three infrastructure projects and host a meeting with members from the Bani Rotary and Lions Clubs.
“On our most recent trip in January of 2020, students from Akron’s Interact Club built a 500 square foot cinder block security wall, and this year we finalized the razor wire security and electronic security on this wall. In addition, we restored the organic gardens and built new fencing to protect the fruits and vegetables used daily to feed the 225 children enrolled. The Center was closed for over 30 months during Covid and reopened in September of 2022,” said Marlene Stone, President of the Akron Lady Lions Club.
“Inside the Center, the education is similar to ours, they play and eat and learn. It’s operated with all of the same routines and security measures that are used to regulate child care centers in the US. A difference, however, (is the ratio of teacher to child which is significantly lower in the US.) What is extraordinary is how different the environment is outside of the Center, the poverty is overwhelming,” said Rotarian Jeannine Morlacci.
“There is a lot of rice served to the children of the Center, but it’s freshly prepared everyday. It was good to see they have a lot of fruit and vegetables but not too much protein. The Center is clean and well-cared for. It’s a big contrast to some of the homes near the Center,” remarked past President of Rotary Cheryl Johannes.
During the pandemic, the Akron Interact Club led by Christina O’Malley collected used sporting equipment and the Akron Lady Lions Club shipped it to this community. This year the trip members included Patty Buckley, Cheryl Johannes, Jeannine Morlacci, Kevin and Marlene Stone were invited to a baseball game by one of the local baseball teams that received some of the donated equipment. New Era Cap Company also contributed MLB hats to distribute to the youth teams.
A meeting was held at the Center that included the Akron service club representatives, the executive director of the Center Tehany Duverge, a translator Esther Riediger, the President of the Bani Lions Club Judge Cecilia Baez, the President of Rotary Nelly Castillo, the Vice President of Rotary Lupe Linares, and secretary/past President of Rotary Javier Andujar. The agenda to establish a partnership whose common goal will be to organize a First Sight Vision Clinic at the Center in February 2024. This clinic would identify those who may have vision problems requiring comprehensive follow-up care and treatment by eye care professionals. This project helps achieve the Lions Club strategic vision of improving the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired. “This meeting brought together so many people interested in helping. Our ability to use technology, social media and especially Google Translate allows us to remain connected and work to build the program next year,” said Patty Buckley.
“While the conditions in this country have improved somewhat, the community of La Saona is still one of the most impoverished communities in the northern hemisphere. All of the children who attend the Center leave fully nutrition recovered and all of them go to elementary school. This Center is the life blood of this community and these charitable acts of service have helped provide education, clean water, safe daycare and medical services to these children and their families,” states Meg Clough, President of the Elizabeth Seton Foundation.
Kevin Stone who is a member of both the Akron Newstead Rotary and Akron Lions Club says, “It’s humbling to be at the Center and work with technicians to install electronic security so that everyone is protected. Once that is established together with a nutritional diet, then learning can become the priority.”
