The Ongoing Mission

In a previous update, I reported on my visit to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  I wrote about the community activities of this particular parish and its pastor, Father Andrew Roache.  Specifically, I described the special way this parish is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in the community.

Their training facility focuses on teaching local people vital employment skills such as computer technology, the Internet, silk-screening (T-shirts), hydroponics, and a whole host of others.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not a wealthy country, and the small population on Union Island is not in the eye of politicians.  Consequently, they must look after themselves.

A second visit with Father Andrew at St. Joseph’s was especially interesting.  They had just hosted a one-week seminar run by the St. Vincent Tourist Promotion Board, in an effort to properly train local workers in the tourist industry.  Most of these people have never had proper training – they simply do not know how to handle tourists.  It is hopeful that this effort will initiate a change in attitude on the island, and perhaps a greater level of prosperity.

Request for Assistance

Over a beer at Lambi’s, Father Andrew and I discussed his strategy and some of the most immediate needs.  He is a big supporter of the idea that locals should be empowered to handle their own affairs, but he is also aware that they currently lack the knowledge and experience to conduct them effectively.  Consequently, he believes in the “knowledge transfer” concept, where experienced professionals from elsewhere show the locals how it’s done.  They effectively pass on their years of experience to the benefit of the locals.

Father Andrew told me that they currently need assistance in two key areas:

1. The Church and Training facility is in need of an experienced administrator and bookkeeper to bring their books and administrative records up to scratch, establish best practices and procedures, then pass this knowledge on to one or more locals to handle on an ongoing basis.
   
   
2. The Training Facility requires an experienced silk-screen operator to restore their silk-screen facility to operational status, initiate best practices in maintaining that operational status, then pass that knowledge and experience on to one or more locals.

Basically Father Andrew is looking for someone to come to Union Island to live at the Center for a brief period and assist them within the areas of specific need.  They are essentially looking for accomplished professionals in the respective fields who are not focused on financial goals, have lots of time on their hands (retired or semi-retired), and are interested in passing on their skills and experience towards the greater good of a community in need.  The parish is in no position to offer financial compensation, however they do offer room and board for the duration of the stay. 

The duration of the stay is flexible, but it is likely that a minimum of three to four weeks or more is necessary to restore operations to a satisfactory level.  Basically, if you or anyone you know is interested in spending a month or more in the Caribbean, donating a few days a week to a worthy cause, and experiencing life in another part of the world, then contact Father Andrew at St. Joseph’s.

Water Recycling

Finally, there is the matter of the laundry facility.  This facility performs all the laundering services for Erika’s Marine Services.  As a laundry facility, it uses LOTS of water.  Unbeknownst to many, Union Island is a desert island – it does not rain there.  The little rainwater collected in cisterns during the “rainy” season is not enough to carry the inhabitants through the entire year.  Consequently, all residents must buy imported water at great expense.

The purchase of imported water throws a wrench in the financial viability of running a laundry service on Union Island.  Consequently, Father Andrew is looking for ways run the laundry service by consuming less water.  I promised that I would look into it.  I figure that somebody on this planet has solved this problem already.

So far, by querying the Internet, I have learned of equipment that can recycle laundry water.  This strategy would reduce the overall consumption of fresh water.  However, the only equipment that I have found is prohibitively expensive as it is targeted towards large laundry facilities.  I am looking for smaller, less expensive strategies that would better fit their specific requirements.  The solution must be out there somewhere.  If you or anybody you know has any knowledge on this topic, please let me know.

These are small things, but they have a great impact on the lives of the community.  Living in a more prosperous part of the world, we take many of these basic things for granted.  I hope that we might be able to offer our knowledge and expertise in an effort to help.