He believes that volunteering and giving back should not have to fit into your schedule, but should be seen as a duty to society.
Adrian Boyce is the immediate past president of the Kiwanis Club of Barbados North. He has played an integral part in the club since he joined 13 years ago. However, he is concerned that there are not enough people volunteering their time to causes in a similar way, for the club which serves a wide area has only 30-odd members.
“There is always the need for more hands but one of the problems is trying to get persons to do volunteer work,” he said.
“Persons are too busy and some say when they get some time they will give back or some say when they retire, but if we all said that no person would help.”
Boyce said the club had as its main focus the children from areas in St James, St Lucy, St Andrew, St Peter, St Thomas and St Joseph. In addition, they work with the elderly in nursing homes and district hospitals, and the less fortunate in the society.
The retired teacher also puts a lot of time and effort into a Common Entrance lessons programme which gives lessons, free of cost, to children in their zone.
The programme, which started in 2000, had been held at Alexandra School since 2002, but is undergoing a change of location. Boyce said it would continue since they had received offers of places to host the lessons.
He said the programme had benefited many children and parents.
“It offers an opportunity for parents who cannot afford to pay for lessons, and given the price of private tuition these days, it can be a saving. That in itself is something I think is worthwhile.”
He added that it had a far reach as they also catered to children from as far as St Philip and Christ Church, and though it initially started for Class 4 children, some in Class 3 had also been benefiting.
“We have been very successful and had children pass for schools from Harrison College and come all the way down to some of the newer schools. We know that we have been doing something good because every year the parents come asking when it will be starting, and there are parents who send three children with us,” he said.
Boyce also dedicates his time with the feeding programme the Kiwanis offer with the assistance of Sandy Lane Hotel. He said the meals, prepared at the hotel, were delivered by Kiwanis members every Sunday to about 45 seniors in the zone.
“There are persons out there, especially the elderly, who are living alone and have no one to look after them. Giving them a meal at least on Sunday helps them to ease the pressure of finding and preparing meals for themselves.”
He said they would love to expand the programme, but were hampered by limited resources.
Boyce said his many years of volunteerism almost came as second nature.
“I have been fortunate. I have been helped by others and this is one of the ways I can give back. I think we should all volunteer, not push down the ladder so others behind us cannot get up.
“We should all extend a helping hand because there will always be less fortunate people in society who just need a helping hand. They will not always be in that situation but they just need you to get them started on their way up,” he said.
