The Rotary Clubs of Tortola and the Rotary Club of St. Thomas, in collaboration with the Elmore Stoutt High School, recently hosted a special celebration dinner titled “Building Peace through Service in the Virgin Islands.”
The initiative focused on fostering youth resiliency, leadership, and the promotion of positive peace throughout the territory.
Tom Carlisi, Lead of the Peace Builders Committee within the Rotary Club of Columbus, Ohio, expressed his excitement about seeing this initiative come to life, emphasizing its significance in engaging young people in the territory.
Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Sharie De Castro, praised the partnership between Rotary and the high school, noting its potential to expand to primary schools across the Virgin Islands. She highlighted the importance of such initiatives in building a foundation of peace from an early age.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley, commended Rotary for spearheading the initiative and stressed the need for peace-driven programs within the territory.
He pointed out various societal elements that contribute to conflict and emphasized that Rotary’s peace-building efforts are crucial and, in many cases, life-saving.
The event served as a platform to acknowledge the role of youth in shaping a more peaceful and unified Virgin Islands. With Rotary’s continued efforts, stakeholders remain hopeful that this initiative will inspire broader community engagement and sustainable peace-focused projects.