Montego Bay, Jamaica (Mckoy’s News) – Youth Peace Summit With Arun Gandhi: Hanover Charities through partnership with The Universal Foundation of Truth for Better Living hosted a Youth Peace Summit with Arun Gandhi, grandson of the great Mahatma Gandhi in the Town Hall of the Montego Bay Cultural Center on Saturday, August 12. Recipients of the Morris-Watkins scholarship were among those in attendance as well as attendees from the UBFL.
Hanover Charities recognizes the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi and the visit of Arun Gandhi, to Montego Bay can undoubtedly be considered quite historic and monumental. This once in a lifetime opportunity allowed scholars to gain first-hand knowledge of how Mahatma Gandhi rallied against the injustice of racial segregation to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Chair of Hanover Charities, Katrin Casserly, notes that “this was a very special event and we are extremely honoured to partner with The Universal Foundation of Truth for Better Living to give our scholars this wonderful experience to meet the grandson of a man who has inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela”.
Gandhi in his inspiring address spoke about using one’s anger productively and noted that “we must learn to channel our anger intelligently and bring it into our lives and use it for the good of humanity” Gandhi. In a discussion centered on peace, scholars were presented with the opportunity to pose questions to Gandhi. Noticeably one of the most inspirational sections of the program, Gandhi shared a number of lifelong lessons learnt from his grandfather and in his message reaffirmed that “we are the masters of our lives” and that we all have “goodness” within us, however, we have to make the choice to live as such.
Chair of Hanover Charities, Katrin Casserly, in her presentation expressed profound thanks to Arun Gandhi for taking the time to meet with the recipients of the Hanover Charities scholarship and for sharing his inspirational message with all those present. In a show of appreciation, Hanover Charities donated J$258,000 to Gandhi’s foundation ( Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute).
Hanover Charities expresses sincerest gratitude to Rosh Marketing Co Ltd who sponsored the food provided by Jamaica Prime Foods, John Swaby Entertainment who provided chairs, Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited for sponsoring non-alcoholic beverages and the Montego Bay Cultural Center for facilitating us.
As a farewell gift, all scholars, sponsors and attendees received the most recent book by Arun Gandhi “The Gift of Anger” which was signed by the author.
Hanover Charities has been serving the needy for 60 years and handed out J$54 million to the parish at the annual grant ceremony held at Round Hill Hotel & Villas on June 22.