May 2020

The May Global Spotlight is a special edition for these unprecedented times. Many Optimist Clubs outside North America have reacted in positive and unexpected ways as they served their communities during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This issue of the newsletter is devoted entirely to their efforts that Optimist International became aware of in April.

The Phoenix College Optimist Club of Jamaica could not meet in person, like most of our Clubs, but found a way to get this important message out to their community.  “We are Optimists practicing social distancing to flatten the curve,” while the Optimist Club of West St. Andrew added the Jamaican phrase “Tan a Yuh Yard” meaning Stay Home.

The Optimist Club of Falmouth in Jamaica distributed 25 care packages containing food and hygiene items to pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers in the parish of Trelawny.

The Optimist Club of Spalding gathered supplies for the Spalding Police Department and exercised a new form of greeting since shaking hands was discouraged by health officials--elbow bumps.

In Africa, the Optimist Club of Kisumu, Kenya, conducted a project to help the poorest people in their city. The members produced 700 masks for people to wear to avoid transmitting COVID-19, complete with the Club logo. The masks were provided through funding obtained from three businesses in Kisumu.  Members of the Club also helped other organizations sign people up for assistance and placed drinking-water containers in strategic areas so fellow residents had clean water to use. The members are continuing to work in this area of Kisumu through the month of May.

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We return to the Caribbean where the Optimist Club of Sunset Liguanea donated supplies to Mary’s Child Center, including more than 50 nonperishable food items, basic food staples such as flour and rice along with cleaning and sanitary items. The Optimist Club of St. Matthews, donated supplies and care packages to the Calabar Primary and Junior High School. The Optimist Club of Mammee Bay was also active in delivering supplies and care packages to families. Optimist Clubs throughout the organization stepped up during the pandemic to provide services and comfort to their communities. Optimist International appreciates and applauds their efforts. It is a clear demonstration of the tenet from the Optimist Creed that reads, “To look at the sunny side of everything and make your Optimism come true.”     The Optimist Creed is one of the main reasons expansion efforts continue across the globe. Zoom meetings have been held and continue to be held with groups interested in forming an Optimist Club in Malta, Bangladesh and South Africa. The projects like so many other events and activities, have slowed because of the pandemic but work continues behind the scenes with the hope of all three and more coming online this summer.