New Rotary Club president of Kingston to focus on deaf, blind, and homeless

Last week, Tricia-Ann Smith DaSilva was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Kingston (RCOK) for the 2025-2026 administrative year. She was inducted during the club’s 66th Installation Banquet at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, and her priority during her tenure will be a focus on inclusion, infrastructure support, and community development for the deaf, blind, and homeless.

Tricia Ann is a past student of Campion College and Wolmer’s Girls’ School and a partner at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Jamaica, an auditing firm based in Kingston. She brings to the presidency over two decades of leadership experience and a consistent track record of community service. She was named Rotarian of the Year for 2022–2023, a recognition of her dedication, project leadership, and impactful contributions to the club’s regional vision.

Although Smith DaSilva’s appointment is only days old, she has been giving thought to her selected platform over the course of several months, and she has been building bridges and forming partnerships with relevant agencies and sectoral leaders to ensure that she hits the ground running. Her presidential year aligns with Rotary International’s theme “Unite for Good” and her district’s mission is to “Recognize Needs, Transform Lives.” Accordingly, the Rotary Club of Kingston is implementing targeted initiatives designed to improve access, safety, and well-being for persons with disabilities and individuals without shelter.

TARGETED INITIATIVES

One of the club’s main projects will begin next month at the Salvation Army School for the Blind, where a classroom in the school’s early childhood section will be renovated. The work includes painting, retiling, lowering wash sinks to child-appropriate heights, refurbishing windows, installing ceiling fans, and providing furniture and learning materials suitable for the students’ developmental needs.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to improving learning environments,” Smith DaSilva revealed. “The space will be more functional and better equipped to support early learners who are blind or visually impaired.”

Initial support has been secured from the National Housing Trust, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Urban Mission Board, and FutureEvents Ja. The club welcomes additional contributions to execute the project.

At the Lister Mair Gilby High School for the Deaf, the club will address access to clean water and sanitation through the installation of a water-tank system and upgrades to key facilities. These improvements aim to strengthen hygiene practices and support a healthier school environment.

MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION

In addition, RCOK will provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification to staff at both schools and install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) — equipment that can restore a heartbeat in an instant – on each campus. Currently, neither school has AEDs available in the event of a cardiac emergency.

“No educator should lack the tools or training to respond in an emergency,” said Smith DaSilva. “This project will help ensure that both students and staff are better protected in critical situations.”

In addition to providing assistance to persons with disabilities, the club is continuing its Home for the Homeless Project in collaboration with Food For the Poor. This initiative involves the construction of permanent housing for individuals without stable shelter, with the goal of improving quality of life through access to basic housing. Under this programme, the club has provided over 20 houses over the years, offering individuals improved living conditions and renewed hope for the future.

“We are extending an open invitation to companies and individuals who are looking for meaningful ways to support national development,” Smith DaSilva told The Gleaner. “This Rotary year is about practical outcomes, strengthened through partnerships, innovative ideas, and meaningful collaboration,” the new president added.