Group Coming To Assist Those In Need

As summer begins to sizzle, some New Yorkers and other culture connoisseurs travelling to Barbados, will not only boast of enjoying the myriad experiences offered during the island’s Crop-Over Festival.

A Crop-Over Dutch party, Ladies’ Bikini Cricket, and a children’s event with the Barbados Fire Service will be part of the growing trend to do good, while having fun as the Barbados We Care - The Helping Hands organisation heads to Bim.

The group, started on Facebook in October 2010 by Sue Bowen and Barclay Harris, with the specific aim of lending assistance to Barbadians and other Caribbean children and families in times of disaster and other areas of need, has joined with NYAL Productions of New York, to lead “philanthropists” to the island in late July.

For the inaugural trip, the group has identified seven primary schools (The Primary Schools Initiative) – St. Giles, St. Martin’s/Mangrove, St. Margaret’s, St. Christopher’s, St. Ambrose, St. Andrew’s and Hillaby/Turner’s Hall – in addition to other needy families, who would benefit from the overwhelming number of back-to-school donations and other items, given by individuals, companies, and a Brooklyn middle school, Arthur J Cunningham.

The intent is to start in Barbados, then partner with other like-minded groups and organisations in the US and the Caribbean, to affect tangible impact and advancement in areas including education, health care and financial discipline.

“We feel extremely passionate about giving back and paying forward and in prompting and accentuating ways for individuals and families to create their own success and positive growth – engendering personal connections,” remarked Harris and Bowen.

The response from businesses has been positive and encouraging. Alen and Fiona Ghassomianes, owners of The Bajan Bistro Restaurant in Manhattan, have hosted the group’s events and community outreach efforts, with prizes offered by American Airlines, as well as the Golden Sands Hotel, National Cultural Foundation, Cave Shepherd Department Store, The Plantation Theatre and CariGES for Women, from Barbados.

A recent collaboration with the City of Bridgetown Credit Union and Denis Tull of the Golden Sands Hotel, will further expose children to various aspects of saving and hotel stays with their families.

While in Barbados, there will be “live” broadcasts from Barbados to listeners of 96.5 FM (www.wild96fm.com), hosted by Sue Bowen, Neville Bush and the Caribbean Pepperpot Crew, heard every Saturday morning in the New York area.