Kiwanis in the News From The Southwester
Op-Ed: Become a Member of Southwest Kiwanis Club BY LINWOOD N. WATSON, PUBLISHED MARCH 2021 READ THE SOUTHWESTER It has always been essential that children are prepared for the future and it has always been expected that it starts at home. But in the old African proverb; “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” suggest that outside support is also key; that an entire community of people must interact with children so they can experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. The birth of the “Kiwanis” was organized in August 1914 to provide fellowship and to experience new ideals in human relationships. In 2005, during the Kiwanis 90th anniversary, “Serving the Children of the World” became their new motto to emphasize the primary focus of Kiwanis service over those nine decades and to make a commitment for the years to come. One major object of the Kiwanis is to provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities. To accomplish this object, Kiwanis clubs take on humanitarian and civic projects focusing on youth and special needs of the community. Some organizations established for youth by the clubs are “K-Kids” at the elementary level, “Builders Clubs” at the middle school level, “Aktion Clubs” for people who are living with a disability, “Kiwanis Junior” for young adults in Europe only, between the ages of 18 and 32, “Key Clubs” at the high school level and “Circle K Clubs” at the 39
The Capital Kiwanian
college level and provides youth the opportunity to help others become personally involved in their community and build a positive future for themselves. All in all, “KIDS NEED KIWANIS”. In Washington, DC, the Kiwanis Club of Southwest Waterfront has been helping kids since it was formally organized in July 2001. We ask advice from community leaders where our support is needed most. We believe we can make a difference in the world of “children” by supporting projects that replace school or civic events that have been reduced by budget cuts. Our projects not only help to keep kids engaged and entertained but offer opportunities for them to be nurtured for future development and to practice new skills by exposing them to interacting with peers, getting them engaged in positive choices, learning the concept of
accountability, resolving conflict, showing respect, communicating effectively, becoming self-confidence. We include social skills in our effort to help our youth succeed because it is so very necessary for them (us) to get along with others. We are remarkably diverse in our outreach efforts which includes, but not limited to, partnering with schools and churches. Our support includes supplying back-to-school supplies, school uniforms, food distribution to families, funds for students to attend Key-Leadership Programs and swimming lessons, helping to send Junior Ushers to Conventions, sponsoring trips to baseball games and fishing, donating Thanksgiving Baskets and Christmas gifts in the Southwest Washington area. We also nurtured and supported Miss Kyan King, a cancer survivor and deemed her “Our Little Angel”.
