Local members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority strik a pose, Ms Sharie de Castro is second from left. Photo:supplied

They showcased their commitment to community service on Saturday January 12, 2013 at the BVI Red Cross, where local Deltas could be seen folding and sorting clothing for the Thrift Store. The Deltas have also committed to volunteering with the BVI Red Cross at the end of this month for the Prostate Cancer Screening.

VIslander Delta, Ms Sharie B. de Castro, related, “We will be partnering with [the Red Cross] this month for the prostate cancer screening in addition to other opportunities… anything else that comes along in terms of service...”

More than 12,000 members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. have convened in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the organisation's centennial from January 11-13. Activities being done to observe the centennial include community service, a re-dedication as well as an awards ceremony.

The Sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the under-served; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities.

According to Ms de Castro, efforts are presently being made to find out how many other sorority members are on island; at this time, there are about ten known VIslanders Deltas who are currently on island or away finishing school.

There is no functioning Delta chapter at the moment in the VI, however, she noted, “we’re currently working towards that, hopefully in the near future, we’ll be able to charter a chapter here which will be very huge… even now, without a chapter we’re doing a lot [within the community]…”

Explaining the significance of the centennial , Ms de Castro said, “To me it’s an amazing feeling, because our sorority was founded by 22 women at a point where women didn’t have a voice, especially Black women, and they pushed to be college educated, independent… they participated in the Women’s Suffrage march in 1913…” Since then she added, members have been participating in many different fights for justice, rights activities and similar undertakings.

Being an Educator herself, she finds an even greater sense of camaraderie in knowing that most of the founders of the group were also educators. “For me there is no greater feeling than to see their vision continue to live on throughout no matter where we are in the world,” Ms de Castro added.

Any other Deltas currently on island can feel free to contact Ms. de Castro via email at virginislandsdst@gmail.com.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominantly Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea.

The major programmes of the sorority are based upon the organisation's Five Point Programmatic Thrust: Economic Development; Educational Development; International Awareness and Involvement; Physical and Mental Health; Political Awareness and Involvement.