More Than – By Jeressa Jeremy
More Than Machines Rotary
While a donation of computers and sewing machines may appear on the surface to be a simple act of charity, the recent contribution from the Rotary Club of Antigua to the Salvation Army represents something much deeper: a deliberate move toward economic empowerment and long-term independence for the nation’s most vulnerable.
The donation is a direct investment in the Salvation Army’s shift from traditional welfare to skill-based liberation. For women facing domestic violence or financial hardship, these tools are not merely equipment—they are the means to build a self-sustaining future.
Jean Raymoncil “Major” Pierre, the Salvation’s Army District Leader for Antigua, St Kitts, and St Martin, clarified that the organization’s goal is to break the cycle of dependency.
“The aim is not just to help a person and have them keep coming back to us,” Pierre explained. “It is to help one so that that one could help others in order for us to have a much larger network. Having a skill is a plus and it benefits everybody.”
By providing the means to learn a trade, such as sewing, the Salvation Army is enabling women to generate their own income. In the context of domestic violence, this economic agency is often the most critical factor in a survivor’s ability to leave a dangerous situation and remain independent.
This economic push is supported by a robust social framework. Pierre emphasized that the Women’s Ministries—which operate in 10 areas including Parham, All Saints, and Willikies—serve as a safe space for emotional and psychological healing.
“They get into the fellowship and hear other stories,” Pierre said. “We have persons who are experiencing abuses, so they would testify or encourage others as to how they get out from it and what they can do to make sure they stay out of it.”
Through this peer-to-peer support, the “education” component of the ministry becomes a dual-purpose tool: providing the technical skills for a job and the social confidence to navigate life after abuse.
To ensure these programs remain a sanctuary, the Salvation Army operates under a strict “All Together Safe” policy. Established in 2015, this 16-country protocol requires everyone involved to sign a code of conduct, ensuring that children, seniors, and vulnerable adults are protected while they learn.
The addition of computers further future-proofs the program, allowing both women and children to bridge the digital divide.
“We cannot just rely on the physical; we have to be technologically advanced,” the Major noted, citing the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
