The Optimist International Global Spotlight was created to provide another means of communication between Optimist International and the Optimist Clubs outside of the United States and Canada.  The newsletter will be sent monthly. If you have suggestions for improvements, Club projects, articles for inclusion and/or other information about your Club, contact communications@optimist.org. 
"
Bonjour les optimistes, Je suis une enseignante universitaire en Génie Mécanique en Tunisie et je suis très intéressée par votre travail. Je serai très contente si vous pouvez m'aider à fonder un nouveau club d'optimistes en Tunisie.
| Hello Optimists, I am a university teacher in Mechanical Engineering in Tunisia and I am very interested in your work. I will be very happy if you can help me to develop a new Optimist Club in Tunisia." -
 
Boutheina Ben Fraj
       


Above is another person in West African expressing an interest in giving Optimist International a foothold in another country on the continent. This project is in its infancy so stay tuned to future editions of the Global Spotlight to learn of developments concerning an Optimist Club in Tunisia! If you have any leads in other countries,  contact newclub@optimist.org .
Clubs in Africa Progress in 2017

So far, 2017 has been a big year for Optimist International in Africa. Optimist Mission
Touch-Bronx, NY is a group of 26 people and most of them originally came from Ghana and settled in New York. The group was formed into an Optimist Club through the efforts of Optimist International Ghana Club President, Godfried Sarpong.  His Club in Ghana is sponsoring the New York Club which is in the Atlantic Central District. It will focus on providing financial support to the half dozen Clubs already existing in Ghana. 

The six Clubs in Ghana include the latest one organized on the same day as the Club in the Bronx.  The Optimist Club of Accra was the dream of Anastasia Glover, who attended the Optimist International Convention in Quebec City last summer. The Club organized February 11 with 54 Members. The Tema District Optimist Club in Ghana is sponsoring the Club in Accra.

Longtime Michigan District Optimist Robert Schiller traveled to Uganda in January to  check on the Kupsya Agents of Millenial Progress or (KAMPS) Optimist Club in Nyumbungo. The Club is sponsored by the Bloomfield and the Every Second Counts Optimist Clubs in Michigan and was chartered three years ago. Bob has been instrumental in the success of the KAMPS Club over the years and has helped establish six Junior Optimist Clubs there as well.
Caribbean Club Celebrates 10 Years of Service

This month's Club spotlight features the Optimist Club of St. Matthews, Kingston for their ten year Club anniversary.

"Our decade long service record was tested several times, but we came through, and during those years, we have consistently been recognized by Optimist International," said Club Publicity Chair, H. Arthur Green. "The Club has achieved Honor Club, Outstanding Club and Distinguished Club status three times in its history. The St. Matthews Club conducts annual programs concerning AIDS  awareness; Reading with the Stars (celebrities/ high profile personalities), and a back-to-school/end of summer fair (scholarship proceeds)."  

Congratulations to the Optimist Club of St. Matthews, Kingston!