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April 11, 2025On Sunday, March 9, 2025, members of the Mahaut Girl Guides gathered at St. Clement’s House in Belfast, Dominica, to learn the importance of water safety and preservation. The event formed part of the organization’s program of activities celebrating its 60th anniversary. It was held in collaboration with Redemptorist priest and ardent conservationist, Fr. Franklyn Cuffy, who is also on the World Rivers Day Committee.
The Mahaut Girl Guides were exposed to sessions on water safety, knowledge of their surroundings, ways to avoid drowning, and the use of life jackets. They also researched and wrote poems and essays on water preservation and safety. The event fit right into a mission that Fr. Cuffy has thrown himself into - preserving and protecting the rivers and water of Dominica.
It is said that the small island of Dominica in the middle of the Caribbean has 365 rivers. However, many of these rivers face threats ranging from pollution, over extracting, and climate change. Fr. Cuffy has been one of many conservationists who has taken on the challenge of protecting these vital resources. Over the past 20 years, he has been active in organizing events for the annual United Nations World Rivers Day, a global event observed every year on the last Sunday of September.
The United Nations World Rivers Day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and rejuvenate the earth’s waterways, ensuring their health and sustainability for future generations. It is a day for communities worldwide to engage in events and activities that highlight the value of rivers and strive towards their conservation.
According to Fr. Cuffy, the driving force behind his work are the words of Pope Francis who said that taking care of our home, the earth, is our responsibility. “The event with the Mahaut Girl Guides was the first of a series of events in observance of the 20th anniversary of World Rivers Day,” Fr. Cuffy said.
“So basically, that is what is driving me.”