True United Sisters honours four
Published:Saturday | March 16, 2013 | 12:00 AM
BOG WALK, St Catherine:
IT WAS a proud moment last Sunday for four outstanding Jamaican women who have given dedicated and unstinting service to the fields of education, health, and community development.
The women, Dr Cynthia Anderson, Dr Beverley Johnson, Marilyn Bowie, and Fay Swaby were lauded by True United Sisters (TUS) at a function themed Women in Action for Transformation.
The Reverend Denzil Jack, pastor, Bethel Circuit of Baptist Churches, was also honoured for his continued support to TUS and other community-based organisations in Bog Walk, St Catherine.
The ceremony was held in commemoration of International Women's Day at Bethel Baptist Church in Bog Walk.
Anderson, retired principal, McGrath High School, began her sojourn at the institution in 1970, one year after it was founded. She became vice-principal eight years later and principal in 1985.
"Under her leadership, the school's agricultural programme was expanded, providing numerous income-generating opportunities through the planting of coconut and oranges as well as the production of coconut water," Verol Johnson cited.
Johnson, a graduate of Mico Teachers' College, was credited with transforming Jericho Primary School - where she served as principal for 15 years - from one plagued by vandalism and low morale to one bubbling with activities and high morale.
"In 2002, she was the only principal selected by the New Horizon Project to attend the International Reading Association Conference in New Orleans. Some three years later, she was selected to attend a month-long Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development conference in Orlando in the United States," Norman Howell read from her citation.
Bowie, who began her career at Kingston Public Hospital and also served Linstead Hospital, was awarded for her invaluable contribution to the health sector.
"We have never seen her short-change a task or give less than 100 per cent. Her passion for her calling has allowed us to see her not just as an extraordinary nurse, but a model citizen," noted Yaneek Grant as she read Bowie's citation.
Swaby, who worked as manager at the Jamaica Livestock Linstead branch for several years is the president of the Rosemount Citizens' Association.
She was hailed for her kind-heartedness and her valiant efforts in the transformation of the Rosemount Community Centre.
"Mrs Swaby has on uncountable occasions rescued the vulnerable and given them food, clothing, a roof over their heads, and guided them to safety," said Johnson, who also presented Swaby's citation.
Enviable track records
Founder-executive director, TUS, Karen Sudu, said the honourees boasted enviable track records and deserved the highest form of commendation.
It was Sudu's desire to provide financial assistance and facilitate skills training and educational programmes for single mothers that motivated her to establish TUS on July 31, 2005.
"It was a dream I had from 1980 while a student at St Jago High school," Sudu told the audience.
"My sister, brothers, and I had to help my mother to make paper bags so that she could sell them in the Old Harbour Market to ensure that she had enough money for us to go to school. We were living with both our parents, but when our father gave my mother $10, that had to do everything, and it just wasn't enough," she explained.
She said her dream then was to set up an organisation that catered to single mothers, and that became a reality 25 years later when she started to assist some of these women with funds.
For this, keynote speaker, Sharon Young-Palmer, manager, Spanish Town Peace and Justice Centre, lauded the community stalwart, also the president of the Church Road Citizens' Association, which she re-established in 1998.
Young-Palmer said the theme Woman in Action for Transformation addressed the important role that women like Sudu played in shaping the way forward for a better Jamaica.
"In these challenging times, we really do need leaders with a vision. Transformational leadership starts with a vision, and indeed, Karen had a vision as long as 25 years before it became reality, and it speaks to the determination of one woman who sought to ensure that she made a difference," said Young-Palmer.
TUS works in collaboration with the Bureau of Women's Affairs. Since its formation, a number of single mothers in Bog Walk, Linstead, and surrounding communities have received financial assistance to provide lunch money, purchase textbooks, and pay examination fees for their children.