The problems of the modern world can seem endless and insurmountable. When one views all of them at once — from global threats of terrorism to the struggling economy to rising waters in the Mississippi River and other natural perils to crime in our own backyard — it is easy to feel powerless and insignificant.

And while one person can do little to hold back floodwaters or repair the economy, there are areas in which a single voice can make a world of difference.

Today the Belle Terre Civic Association is hosting a kickoff party for its Neighborhood Crimewatch from 9 a.m. to noon in the 300 block of St. Andrews Boulevard. The party is serving a twofold purpose: to finalize plans for the watch and celebrate its rebirth.

The neighborhood once enjoyed such a program, but it was one of the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of a rash of crimes in the Belle Terre subdivision, however, it became clear to Raj Pannu, president of the Belle Terre Civic Association, that something had to be done.

Pannu then set about rebuilding the watch group, and in just a few months time, the group is ready to start patrolling the streets once again.

While Pannu did not do everything by herself and is quick to credit her neighbors and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office with making the watch possible, it is undeniable that without her singular voice, Saturday’s event probably would not be happening.

So the next time you find yourself thinking, “What can I do about it? I’m just one person,” remember Pannu and the power that her lone voice has had.