February was a time for working in communities to make them a better place. There was also an opportunity to expand the Optimist presence in the Caribbean. The Seed of Hope Optimist Club of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, was organized with 17 members, mentored by the Georgetown Grand Cayman Optimist Club and the Optimist Club of Manor Park in Jamaica. Several Clubs in the Caribbean nation were spreading Optimism through their projects.

The Optimist Clubs of Spalding and Southern Trelawny in Jamaica combined efforts to repaint the playground at Christiana Leased Primary.

The playground serves over 80 students in the Infant Department and will be ready and waiting when they return for face-to-face classes after midterm.

The Optimist Club of Manor Park in Jamaica was busy turning the soil as members participated in a tree-planting project.

We've got a feeling the members of the Optimist Club of Manor Park were happy they could get their hands dirty on their tree-planting project. And when they're done their work, there will be so much life added to the community—thanks to them!

Meanwhile, The Optimist Club of North St. Andrew created a project outside of the local YMCA to help homeless men and boys with a hot meal.

Optimists from Kathmandu, Bagmati, and Tarkeshwor rolled up their sleeves as part of a joint project with local Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs. A tea/coffee cup was created for the event with the logos of all the service organizations on it.

In Africa, we learned that the Oti Region Optimist Club of Ghana, with the help of a donor from the United States, provided chairs for a local police department that had none.

In February, during the monthly International Development Committee webinar, several other projects were highlighted. Members of Clubs in the Philippines, Nepal, Malta, Belize, and Sri Lanka provided details of projects that other Clubs could replicate. A recording of the 45-minute session can be found here.

If you would like to see your Club’s project featured in an upcoming edition of the Spotlight, please send a photo or two plus a brief description of the project to jim.boyd@optimist.org. 

We are nearing the midpoint of the Optimist administrative year, which means it is a perfect time for all our Clubs to take part in some planning for your Club and a review of your Club’s status.