“To move forward you have to give back” is a quote that resonates with me. I have always had a passion for service, but never really followed through as often as I should. I am one of those persons that believes wholeheartedly in the concept of paying it forward, because God has truly blessed me.
When I returned to Jamaica I knew I wanted to be involved with an organization that was service oriented. Of course we have many such organizations across the island, but I told myself that I didn’t know where to start. That obviously was my procrastination mindset peaking its ugly head.
It so happens that the company that I worked for at the time was sponsoring a charitable golfing event being held by the Kiwanis and I was the person in charge of spearheading it for my company. During the meet and greet session the main organizer from a Kiwanis Club randomly asked me if I wanted to become a member and I said yes and as they often say…. The rest is history. Several months later and despite the pandemic the world is facing, I am now a proud member of the Kiwanis Club of Young Professionals, Kingston.
As a then prospect, I looked forward to the various projects that I was able to be a part of. For me, these projects were not just about seeing if I could make an impact on a young life but also about evolving as a human and truly accepting your purpose on earth. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with a few boys at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home as a part of a male mentorship programme. Just to see how interactive and invested the boys were with the process was great. This really made me feel like there’s hope. I am really looking forward to seeing how this will develop as we continue to on this mission.
The reality is that most of these kids really just want someone to believe in them, and tell them they can do it and do it big. They often grow up in an area that does not fuel them with any sense of hope. Sometimes it is easy to become a product of your environment especially when you are not exposed to anything else. I personally know what is like to be in that space. So if I can motivate one child, that is one less person believing that they can’t rise above their immediate circumstances.
I do not know what my Kiwanis journey has in store for me, but I am sure it will continue to challenge and mold me into a better human being. I know I am in the right place because the persons around me let me feel like I am a part of the process. I would recommend to anyone that wants to give of their time and talents to join a service organization such as the the Kiwanis Club of Young Professionals, Kingston. Most importantly, Kiwanis has reminded me that I can be a vehicle of change and I do not have to it alone. Team work makes the dream work!
Contributed by Kiwanian Kemar Lake
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