The Rotary E-Club of Raleigh International (RECRI) is a cause-based Rotary club that meets online. The club was established in 2023 to serve communities in the Caribbean; initially, and for the next several years, we are focused on working with the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf in Jamaica. The school was established in 1966 and all teachers are bilingual, in English and Jamaican Sign Language (JSL).
Few Deaf students in Jamaica complete secondary school, and, as a result, few have professional employment. Students who do graduate from secondary school usually have less than a fifth-grade reading level, and more than half of the Deaf community in Jamaica lives in poverty. Many are unemployed and have difficulty finding jobs, due to lack of access to communication, necessary qualifications, and the social networks typically needed to find work in Jamaica.
Our club works with the school to identify and prioritize plant and infrastructure needs. Each year, we travel to the school in Jamaica and spend time completing the projects identified for that year
In 2023-2024 we provided the school with more than 20 modern high-speed computers together with digital projectors and other digital equipment. This equipment allows the school to access online learning resources and to teach marketable skills in graphic design, web coding and to implement customized software to teach English using JSL as the primary language.
In 2024-2025 we will complete a number of projects including renovating a shower facility for the female students, building a roof over an outdoor stairway to protect students from torrential rain, installing air conditioning in offices and fans in classrooms, and constructing a wheelchair ramp.
During our weekly club meetings, we learn about a wide range of subjects, often focused on Caribbean culture and society. During meetings, we are intentional about creating connections between our members, who live in four different countries and six states in the United States, and in having fun. These international connections allow us to experience the worldwide impact of Rotary International.
We serve through club projects and through our contributions to The Rotary Foundation, which supports humanitarian efforts globally, including support for our own annual projects.
Interested in making a difference? Join us for a meeting or two and then complete a membership application form. Our members are mid-career to retired adults with a heart for service and the means to travel to the Caribbean at least once a year for service projects. If you are interested in serving deserving students, we hope you’ll join us and support our projects. Find our meeting calendar here. We look forward to meeting you, soon!
CONNECT. TRAVEL. SERVE.
