Dedication and compassion is what it takes to serve the community. These are the sentiments of the newly-elected chairperson of the Friends of Fort England, Jill Rothman.
Dedication and compassion is what it takes to serve the community. These are the sentiments of the newly-elected chairperson of the Friends of Fort England, Jill Rothman.
Rothman will be taking over the reins from Roswitha Hobson, who recently retired. The cheerful leader was the principal of Kuyasa Special School for 23 years and has been an active member in the Corner House project of the Friends for a long time.
The Corner House is a long running project of the Friends, where some of the ex-patients of Fort England reside after being discharged from the hospital. Rothman told Grocott's Mail how much she admires the organisation.
"I will be steering a long-floating ship," Rothman said.
"I have been involved with the Corner House since its inception, when it was still called the Halfway House."
Rothman said they are keeping the name Friends of Fort England, even though the hospital board will be taking over to honour the long-standing relationship between the Friends and the hospital.
"Our association is one of friendship and support," she said.
"We have many spirited people in the committee who want to serve the community."
Rothman said the constitution of the Friends of Fort England has been broadened.
"We now promote the welfare and rehabilitation of Fort England Hospital patients by integrating them into the social, economic, cultural, religious and recreational life of the community."
Rothman said the stigma against people suffering from mental illness is rife.
"Patients are human beings and although we cannot change people's hearts we can educate them about mental illness," she said.
One of the challenges presently faced by the Friends is not owning a premise of their own for the Corner House.
"We currently rent the Corner House premises with the little funds that we have and we would appreciate contributions from donors for new premises," she added.
In conclusion, she said she would do the best she can to better her community through the running of Friends of Fort England.
