Cayman Islands Community Development Officer: Rewarding, Demanding Job

GRAND CAYMAN (GIS) – Currently numbering five, the dedicated Community Development Officers (CDOs) of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) have a very demanding and multi-faceted job, often working with some of the most vulnerable in our community. Delmira Kirchman-Bodden covers East End and North Side, Flavia Gardner is responsible for Bodden Town, Dorline Welcome is responsible for George Town, Vanda Powery is responsible for West Bay and Elsa Annie Rose Scott covers the Sister Islands.

Not a job for 9 to 5 desk jockeys or clock-watchers, their work takes them across the length and breadth of their districts, and no two days are ever the same. “Long days and eating on the hoof come as standard,” said George Town’s CDO, Dorline Welcome.

Elsa Annie Rose Scott is the longest-serving team member. Born and raised in Cayman Brac, she joined the former Department of Social Services back in 1998 and has spent the last 20 years on the job. She has seen a lot of changes in the Department and her job due to the growing complexity of societal issues since she joined.

Given the size of the Brac, Annie Rose knows most residents well, which has its benefits but requires a heightened sense of discretion in a very small and close-knit community.

Known best for her work with seniors, Annie Rose finds that being highly visible as a community leader means being on call 24/7: “Caring for others has always been my passion,” said Annie Rose. Being a Community Development Officer has pushed me to grow as an empathetic person, who is always willing to go the extra mile for others.”

Delmira Kirchman-Bodden is another longstanding CDO. She finds her job very rewarding, but not one for the fainthearted given some clients are experiencing serious crises in their lives. “Being very analytical and brave, I’ve always been drawn to humanitarian work,” she said. “I’ve little tolerance for social injustice and use my training to work for those who need a voice to experience a better quality of life through strong partnerships and government programmes, community/business partnerships and self-determination.”

Flavia Gardner sees her job as a fulfilling career where she can be a change-maker. “I get to interact with persons at all levels to promote awareness while implementing self-help projects,” she said. “As a result, there are visible improvements in our society that come from improving the lives of others.”

Vanda Powery’s main motivation is to assist, empower and educate. “Our successes result many times from the collaborative way we work within our multi-disciplinary team from the various community advocate groups, service groups, schools, individuals and government agencies,” she said. “We all share a unified goal to promote, educate and use programmes to make a positive impact in our clients’ lives, and sometimes, those of the community as a whole.”

“I am here to serve,” concluded George Town’s Dorline Welcome. “My passion is to work with people helping them to solve their problems by teaching them to be a part of their own solution. My satisfaction comes from seeing lives enhanced through positive interventions.”

Members of the Community Development Team can be contacted via the Department of Children and Family Services on 244-0290 or by cell phone:
· Delmira Kirchman-Bodden (East End & North Side) – 925-5543
· Elsa Annie Rose Scott’s (Sister Islands) – 925-9872
· Flavia Gardner (Bodden Town) – 926-0490
· Vanda Powery (West Bay) – 916-7902
· Dorline Welcome (George Town) – 925-4083/244-7211

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Photos and captions:

CDO1: Delmira Kirchman-Bodden

CDO2: Flavia Gardner

CDO3: Dorline Welcome

CDO4: Flavia Gardner

CDO5: Annie Rosie Scott