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CPDC is pleased to present the first edition of JUST US, a magazine which celebrates acts of altruism and corporate social responsibility that improve the lives and wellbeing of people.
Citation preview
CREDITS:Design & Layout: GreenLeaf Design Inc.
Printing: GreenLeaf Design Inc.
Editor: Martin Hall
Volunteer Project Assistant: Carlyn Barrow
Photography: Marcille Haynes
2
CONTENTS:EDITORIAL NOTE............................................3
VARIETY THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY CARING FOR OUR YOUTHS........................................4
UNSUNG HEROES - FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK...................................8
THE CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES CARING FOR THE ILL...................................................9
FEEDING THE HUNGRY - KEMAR SAFFREY.......................................................11
I’AKOBI RESOURCE CENTRE SUPPORTING OUR HUMAN RIGHTS...................................14
NATION PUBLISHING - SUPPORTING MEANINGFUL CAUSES.................................18
ALICIA COLLINS: ADOPTING THE GANG, GUIDING THE YOUTH...................................21
REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST TINA, INSPIRING THE LIVES OF OTHERS........................................................24
THE BANANA MAN: THE MAN WITH THE RADIO...........................................................25
EDITORIAL NOTECPDC is pleased to present the first edition of JUST US, a magazine which celebrates
acts of altruism and corporate social responsibility that improve the lives and wellbeing
of people.
JUST US shares with you the little stories of ordinary people who take extraordinary
approaches to uplift the lives of others. These mammoth examples of care-giving
happen quietly everyday and the selfless heroes and sheroes often remain unnoticed
and unsung. Several of these are young persons who inspire us with their maturity,
determination and love.
JUST US features the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, led by a young
man with an unswerving commitment to care for older men who find themselves in
need. The Society manages a weekly feeding programme and grooming service. The
Society plans to further uplift recipients by providing housing in the near future and
preparing them for employment in the longer term.
“Adopting the Gang, Guiding the Youth highlights a young woman in St. Kitts whose
sensitivity to the problems some young men face led to her own extraordinary approach.
She ‘adopted’ a gang of young men – who are at risk – in order to prevent them from
becoming victims of crime.
“Inspiring the Lives of Others” features a lady whose selfless actions inspired the life of
a young woman who in the face of adversity forged her way to success. This young
woman lost her mother to HIV at the age of seven and was the only one of three
siblings to have contracted the disease. In turn, she devoted her life to community
development and to helping those she viewed as less fortunate than herself.
These are only three of the articles featured in JUST US which brings you the voices of
your neighbours explaining how they change the lives of many families for the better.
Should you know about any ordinary people who use extraordinary approaches to
help less fortunate persons, tell their stories to JUST US, and inspire the whole world.
Contact CPDC at [email protected] or at 246-437-6056. Visit our website
at www.cpdcngo.org
3
VARIETY THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY
CARING FOR OUR YOUTHS.
4
Variety the Children’s Charity is an international organization which started in
the theatre district of Pittsburgh U.S.A in December 1928, when the manager
of the Sheridan Square Theatre found an abandoned infant with a note saying
from “A Heart-Broken Mother.” The note told the story of the mother who was
unable to continue caring for the child. It was not long before the Variety Club
was formed to raise funds for “Catherine” and other disadvantaged children.
The club’s first fundraising event was held under a circus big top, which is
why the circus vernacular (Tent for Club; Crew for members; and Barker for
President) is used worldwide within the club structure to this day. Variety
Tent 73 of Barbados, a registered charity, was formed in 1994, eventually
receiving its charter from Variety International in April, 1995.
The Charity is best known for its Gold Hearts and Row for Charity events
and has donated funds to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, and to individuals for medical and
educational assistance over the years. The familiar sight of Aunty
Olga on the road with the Sunshine logo on her vehicle is a
product of a special Variety programme which provides coaches
for various organizations to assist in transporting the physically
handicapped to schools and other important appointments.
The Gold Hearts and Row for Charity Campaigns rely heavily
on businesses to contribute through donations, the sale of hearts
at their various locations, and the hosting of events relating to its
programmes. The fundraising events are not only great for building the
awareness of social responsibility in businesses but it also possesses
the added values of charitable giving and team building, values which both
the organisation and the individual can benefit from. Many employees of
these businesses get involved initially through this corporate partnership
and subsequently sign up with Variety as volunteers and members. This
philanthropic approach continues to grow as companies and individuals
alike experience the joy of giving. Over the years Variety has, with the help
of its volunteers, sponsors and benefactors, assisted many children and
organisations in need.
Since the founding group first worked assiduously to raise $200,000 to start
a Variety chapter in Barbados, Variety – Tent 73 has been instrumental in
funding the majority of equipment for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados. Now equipped with the
only PICU in the region, the QEH can handle emergency admissions for
young patients requiring various levels of life support and care for immediate
post-operative open heart surgical patients, orthopaedic and neurological
patients from Barbados and other Caribbean countries.
5
100 children enjoyed movies such as Karate Kid and
Marmaduke along with the usual movie extras such
as popcorn, drinks and snacks. Our Variety at Work
programmes also facilitates outings for children such as
picnics, tours and parties.
Members of the public who require
assistance with sick or disabled children
may appeal to us for consideration.
While not all appeals are
guaranteed acceptance, Variety’s
Appeal Committee promises
to investigate thoroughly all
applications and wherever
possible assist either directly or
by referrals. Appeals should be
made in writing accompanied by
an Appeals form, supporting medical
reports and full details of requirements. Forms
are available on our website at www.varietybarbados.
org or can be collected from our offices in Plantation
complex, Harmony Hall, St. Lawrence, Christ Church.
Interested persons may also call the office at 246-428-
9258.
6
Over the past decade the Unit has helped more than
1,000 children receive life-saving procedures. Variety
continued its relationship with the PICU, by spearheading
a $1million dollar project for the refurbishment and
expansion of the Unit.
In addition, Variety has funded individual
medical procedures for children who
were forced to seek medical
attention overseas and has
funded educational initiatives for
care givers and organisations
catering to the needs of
the mentally and physically
challenged and the less
fortunate in the community. Our
Sunshine Coach Programme
has provided seven coaches to
organisations such as the Children’s
Development Centre, The Challenor School, and
The Thelma Vaughn Memorial Home to transport the
children to and from school, and to other important
appointments. A vehicle was also provided to Auntie
Olga of the Needy Children’s Fund to continue her
amazing work with disadvantaged children. We also
assist by paying the salaries of physiotherapists who
work with children with special needs.
Apart from the medical and educational needs of the
children, Variety also is mandated through its mission
statement to the “...improvement of the care given to
them and the quality of their lives in general.” Children
need to play, laugh, participate in fun activities and
generally feel loved.
Variety therefore interacts with children’s homes through
the Child Care Board and other community services
to reach the less fortunate children. These children
are invited to many of the fund raising events, and to
special events hosted for them during the year. This
summer, Variety partnered with the Olympus Theatres
to provide the children with the Summer Movie Morning
series. Each month this summer, over
7
Social responsibility is an important focus for our Bank. We are serious
about responding to the needs of the communities we serve and are
committed to giving back to our Caribbean brothers and sisters in
tangible ways.
“CIBC FirstCaribbean is committed to the well-being of its communities
and that is why our social programmes are geared towards the
betterment of the lives of Caribbean people and the environment.
We care - Social and physical health are important to us. Let’s work
together to achieve this.”
Personal Banking
Wealth Management
Small Business Banking
Corporate Banking
Investment Banking
Cash Management Solutions
Credit Cards
Internet & Telephone Banking
The CIBC logo is a trademark of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, used by FirstCaribbean International Bank under license.
Social Responsibility
Commitment is caring
It is a region-wide initiative and all countries in which
FirstCaribbean operates participate in the programme.
FirstCaribbean is of the view that many deserving causes
and important projects miss out on financial and other
support simply because people don’t know that they
exist.
FirstCaribbean wants to not only provide financial support
but also, importantly, bring attention to as many of these
causes and to showcase the work that is done day
and night by ordinary men and women. These Unsung
Heroes who seek no fame or reward make the lives of
the disadvantaged and underprivileged in this Region so
much better. They are living examples of the best we
can be.
FirstCaribbean International Bank wants to uphold these
persons as examples for the various communities by the
work that they do. This must be done in such a way
as to tell the world their story. FirstCaribbean’s Unsung
Heroes programme represents one of the most unique
and useful community support initiatives in the Caribbean
today.
FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANKUnsung Heroes are all among us throughout the Caribbean Region. They
exist in almost every community—from small fishing
villages to our larger nation capitals. They come from all
walks of life, indeed they come in all shapes and sizes,
and guises. Despite this, they all share one elevated trait-
-they make positive things happen for others. They’re
enablers, and they stand out within their communities as
a result, but are otherwise unknown to the wider public.
Unsung Heroes are not fully developed media
personalities. They go about their charity and their good
works without consideration for reward or self acclaim
(-hence ‘Unsung’). They’re not politicians, or popular
social figures looking for a cause on which to hitch their
public relations fortunes, instead they are everyday,
ordinary people, looking for genuine ways to contribute
their efforts towards improving the social surrounds for
us all.
They could be champions of small or large causes,
popular or esoteric causes. The
key commonality is their shared
determination to make the world a
little more pleasant, a little better than
it was before. It is with this awareness
that FirstCaribbean’s Unsung Heroes
programme was piloted in 2003 and has
become the flagship for volunteerism in
the Caribbean.
This is the Bank’s flagship corporate
social responsibility programme where
a significant amount of our resources
are directed.
8
UNSUNG HEROES
THE CANCER SUPPORT SERVICESCARING FOR THE ILLCancer could come in all forms such as: Lung ; Oral;
Stomach; Kidney; Bladder; Skin; Lymphoma; Leukaemia;
Endometrial and the most prevalent Prostate, Ovarian,
Breast and Pancreatic. Being diagnosed with cancer
could be a crushing blow to an individual and supporting
family members. Cancer Support Services provides
a haven where patients and their families can gain the
emotional support they seek and have their fears and
concerns addressed.
Cancer Support Services, founded and registered as a
Charitable Organization on the 17th of April 1996, was
primarily formed to assist patients and their families, to
help them get over the stigma and myths associated
with being diagnosed with cancer. This organisation
has an executive body that governs and oversees the
philanthropic activities being done by its members.
Located at “ARBORSIDE”, Belmont Road, St. Michael,
Barbados, the organization serves not only as a health
recovery program for some patients with cancer, but also
lend the moral support and helping hand where needed.
This organization aims to provide a voluntary service to
persons diagnosed with cancer; assist all persons through
education and counselling to make decisions relating to
their basic physical, social, mental and spiritual needs. It
also seeks to offer assistance, without discrimination to
patients with cancer, and any other persons with chronic
diseases who seek help from this charity. Cancer Support
Services also participates in activities which are deemed
necessary to further its cause.
9
UNSUNG HEROES
Through the provision of the following activities, the
organization was able to address and alleviate many
of the possible problems which a diagnosis may bring.
These activities include:
• Counselling services to help families come to grips with
this type of challenge.
• Assistance with nursing care to patients who choose
to remain at home.
• Financial assistance to needy families.
• Educational material to families interested in learning
about their relative’s condition.
• A podiatrist and a barber to provide the necessary care
to all patients on ward C12.
Having adopted Ward C12 at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, Cancer Support Services maintains the ward
by supplying linens for the beds. A private launderer is
also contracted to do the laundry of the linen for the ward.
A supply of privacy screens was also donated to the
ward to add more privacy for the patients. Upkeep of the
ward to a high standard solely rests on Cancer Support
Services, and this includes having it fully maintained to
make those patients feel ‘a home away from home’
Apart from adopting Ward C12, the organization plays a
crucial role in the lives of the children whose parents have
been diagnosed with cancer. Not only providing for the
emotional and psychological trauma, but they also help
with the purchasing of school supplies for the beginning
of each school year in September.They also help with
purchasing some medications for patients.
This organization has an on-going out-reach programme
where they go into the various communities around the
island to conduct Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing.
This outreach programme seeks to encourage males to
be tested for cancer. Not only do they do testing during
the outreach programmes, but they also seek to educate
members of the public about various cancers as well.
10
Cancer Support Services has a series of accomplishments
when it comes to cancer care and educating the public
about cancer, as well as the programmes available.
Apart from adopting the Ward C12 and launching the
PSA Testing outreach Programmes, they have also
refurbished the Radiotherapy Department and donated
wedges, drapes and furniture. They also provide
training to members in counselling, bereavement and
First Aid. Cancer Support Services has also donated
two Braun Perfusor PCA-Module Pumps to the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital to assist with pain management. With
pain management treatment in focus, the organization
sponsored a doctor and a patient to visit the Pain
Management Centre of Sloan Kettering hospital in New
York, U.S.A to observe their Pain Management Treatment.
This organization has various sources of funding.
Some of these are; The Orange Ribbon Drive,
sponsored walks, tea parties, cake sales, luncheons,
general donations, covenants, membership fees and
donations at funerals in lieu of flowers. There are a
number of upcoming events such as a Sponsored Walk,
a Concert and a Tea Party. A proposal for a Hospice was
put forward to the Ministry of Health in 2003.
Membership in Cancer Support Services is open to any
member of the public. The organisation holds monthly
meetings at Queens College Secondary School,
Husbands, St. James, Barbados on the fourth Saturday
of each month at 4:00 p.m. Cancer Support Services
has three membership categories available; the General
Membership which is $30.00 annually, Life Membership
400.00 and Corporate Membership $500.00 annually.
For further information visit the website www.css.org.bb.
FEEDING THE HUNGRYKemar Saffery
Not everyone is fortunate to have a home, a hot meal, clothing, and other forms of security that helps them to balance their daily living. Unforeseen incidents and circumstances
do occur, and when they do, each person needs a
helping hand to reinstate their personal niche.
A young child playing and interacting with these
vagrants and homeless persons vowed one day, that
as he reached an older age he would do his best to
help these persons. Kemar Saffery had a different vision
from most boys his age; his vision was “to see vagrants
and homeless persons focused and back on their feet
again - giving them the dream of living the lifestyle of
any regular person once more.” Today the Barbados
Vagrant and Homeless Society, a registered charity since
October, 2009 of which Saffery is the founder, is making
this a reality. Saffery, a former student of the St. George
Secondary School, who sits as Executive Chairman of
the Board of Directors in the organisation; holds an
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Award , awarded
by University of Harvard Business School. He was also
awarded the Barbados Youth Business Entrepreneurship
Award for 2009.
According to Saffery, he has not faced many challenges
with the organisation thus far and it has received an
amazing response, from both the corporate sector and
persons who are willing to give of their time to help the
organisation reach its goals. His goal for the Barbados
Homeless and Vagrant Society is to see it expand
throughout the Caribbean and foster partnerships
with similar organisations, to help these individuals
become productive products of society once more.
The Barbados Vagrant and Homeless Society’s weekly
feeding programme, on Thursday evenings in Heroes
Square, has become something to look forward to by
many homeless persons who benefit from this venture.
11
In the upcoming months this Society would be hosting
several events in which any member of the public can
become involved, to show their support for the Society
and for the cause.
The Barbados Vagrant and Homeless Society upcoming
events include a Dollar drive in partnership with First
Caribbean Bank, whereby each individual or employee
of the bank would place a dollar in collection cans
placed throughout the island to help with the feeding
programme. Furthermore, the Society is planning to
have daily feedings to better cater to actual needs. Also,
there will be a Buy a Brick Project, where each person
can purchase a brick and donate it to the housing
programme for the homeless and vagrants. Moreover,
through a partnership with Hanscell Inniss, funds will be
raised which will be given to the Association.
Saffery firmly believes in getting sponsorship on his own.
He acknowledges that while many organisations depend
upon government to give them funding, he is trying
to avoid that by creating other opportunities to create
financial support for his organisation.
12
13
I’AKOBIRESOURCE CENTRESUPPORTING OUR HUMAN RIGHTS
turn dreams into reality. It was impossible to resist the
call. I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney was a man of exemplary
character. He embodied the concept of making
something out of nothing. Coming from the inner city of
Bridgetown, Barbados, in an area known as Reid Street,
he was raised in a family that accepted and practiced the
Rastafarian faith. They acknowledged the significance
of an African way of life – something that is commonly
suppressed and even oppressed in a post-colonial
society. Amidst the harsh reality of this environment, his
parents were able to provide the building blocks and
fundamental tools that would propel him into a life of
continued achievements and recurrent successes. The
life of this man, who at the age of 23 was a Regional Debate
Representative, a Barbados Exhibition Award winner, a
Valedictorian who graduated Magna Cum Laude from
UWI and a Chemical Engineer
among other things, had
touched those even beyond
his immediate associates.
He was cherished by all he
came to know, and all those
he knew, loved him.
The founders of the I’Akobi
Youth Resource Centre know,
as spoken by his Mother,
that I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney
continues to speak to us.
They strive to uphold those
same basic principles that his
life came to exemplify. Their
mission: to be a part of the
solution that brings an end
to the senseless pain and unwarranted suffering. They
have turned the IYRC (as it is affectionately known)
into a place that sponsors culturally rich activities and
events that support the overall growth and development
of individuals, families and communities. At the IYRC
there are Dance for Life African inspired dancercise
classes which are family friendly, to which Mothers are
encouraged to bring their children. There are also West
African Family Drum classes. Capoeira, an African-
Brazilian martial art is practiced or “played” by adults and
children alike. Weekly the Centre hosts the Nu Afrikan
Traditional Religion as it explores concepts of
14
The lights deliberately soften, and the faint
glow of the candles dance as the sound
of a djembe silences the crowd of anxious
patrons. The conga joins in and the incessant rhythm
pulls the onlookers to the floor. One by one, dancers
grace the floor as the
microphone is passed like
a baton from one artist
to another. The space
is filled with the acoustic
sounds of melodic voices,
chants and spoken words
- telling stories of love,
strength and struggle.
Every aspect, every
player, is seamlessly
woven together creating
a ritualistic tone. A ritual
that is known as Afrika
Move Me.
If anything can be said
about the I’Akobi Youth
Resource Centre, it would
be that every event assumes the form of a ritual. Afrika
Move Me is only one of the many activities staged at the
centre, and this space - a seed planted by a tragedy -
has been nurtured with the tears, dreams, hearts and
of course, the hands of a collective that wants only to
create something beautiful from something that was
a crime against a Man, his family and his community.
Everything that takes place seems destined; a part of a
divine plan. The founders of the I’Akobi Youth Resource
Centre came together to be the ears that acknowledge
the cries of the unheard, the voice that speaks for the
people and the hands that willingly put forth the work to
spirituality. Afrika Move Me is a periodic open mic/open
floor gathering. Monthly there is a CRY-I session that
through multi-media art exhibitions, recounts the story
of I’Akobi’s tragic passing and reaffirms the Centre’s
goals and objectives. The IYRC has hosted Movie
Nights, Kwanzaa celebration activities, health lectures,
women’s empowerment workshops and Watoto Village
(a culturally centered children’s art camp). There is an on
call herbalist and holistic health consultant affiliated with
the IYRC. Along with all of these things, the IYRC houses
the Aya Café, a vegetarian restaurant and café.
This may sound like a well orchestrated scheme that was
engineered from an intricate blueprint, but the Centre
and all of its many programs came together much like
the founders did – as though it were part of a larger plan.
Martin Evanson, one of the founders, can be seen doing
anything from painting the building to making sure that
every aspect of the Centre is running as it should. There
is rarely an event that he is unable to attend. Oneka Small,
a specialist in museum design and an art curator, is often
found in the kitchen of the Aya Café offering suggestions
and rolling up her sleeves. She conceptualizes and
produces each of the Cry-I sessions. She has taken on
the role of ensuring that the Centre continues to visually
and aesthetically represent its purpose. You might catch
Heru Holligan, the Holistic Heath Consultant, playing the
role of MC at any of the events or conceiving the next
project for the IYRC. He is often described as the engine
that keeps the car moving. Richard Goddard is the quiet
force that lends the strength of support. He maintains
the order while consistently guiding his partners through
each of the endeavors. These individuals, who have
selflessly come together, form a collective that makes the
magic known as the IYRC.
If you ask the founders if it has been easy, they will
undoubtedly say that the work is hard. At times it
seems never-ending and the rewards don’t come in the
form of immediate gratification from monetary gains or
compensation. But it is this work that has given new
meaning to their lives. One fateful event forever altered
their paths that once were separate – parallel maybe, but
varied none the less.
These paths are forever changed, joined as one on the
15
road to justice. They will each probably say that they
were just doing the right thing – what anyone would have
done if presented with this task.
But to anyone who visits the IYRC or takes part in its
activities and programs, it is obvious that the founders
have created something extraordinary. The passing of
I’Akobi Maloney was the catalyst that brought people,
families and communities together. His Spirit has laid
the plan and those at the IYRC followed the orders of the
Divine. It is that Spirit that reaches into the soul when the
Berimbau is played during the Capoeira roda or when the
Djun Djun keeps the rhythm throughout the drum class.
It cannot be denied. It is impossible to resist the call.
16
17
NATION PUBLISHINGSUPPORTING MEANINGFUL
CAUSESThe Nation Publishing Co. Limited has been built on a
foundation of philanthropy. Through our sponsorships,
donations and events, we aspire to foster strong
relationships with all Barbadians.
Our unwavering commitment to the community is innate
and goes way beyond corporate responsibility.
Thus, our loyalty knows no boundaries as we aim to give
back to all persons regardless of status by hosting various
events across all sectors. It is not just about producing a
high quality newspaper but about knowing what matters
to our readers.
Our annual Fun Walk is the oldest of our Nation events.
It is hosted annually in celebration of the company’s
anniversary. Over 10,000 Barbadians and visitors
participate in the walk. It caters to persons of all ages,
creating a fun-filled, relaxing and family-oriented
atmosphere. More recently, schools have become an
integral part of the walk vying for titles such as Biggest
Registered School and Best Uniformed School. The
walk is also used to raise funds for various events and
purposes within the schools.
The Nation Fun Ride is also the largest of its kind in
Barbados. Growing in popularity each year, the Fun Ride
attracts hundreds of Barbadians. It has raised substantial
amounts of money for many non-profit organizations and
service clubs. This event gives the public the opportunity
to come up with innovative ideas to transform ordinary
bikes into state-of-the-art pieces.
Within The Nation Group of Companies, we also have
a strong commitment to health. This has given way
to our healthy lifestyle mandate which is promoted in
conjunction with the Healthy Lifestyles Committee.
18
The Committee is made up of dedicated organisations
who also share our passion for health in Barbados.
These include: The Barbados Road Safety Association,
Spectrol Medical Laboratories, The Diabetes Association
of Barbados, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of
Barbados, Natural Energy, PAHO, Gyms of Barbados
and the Barbados Cancer Society.
Our efforts began with the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza
in 1996, which was the Caribbean’s largest health fair.
This was conceptualised to bring lifestyle diseases to
the top of the public’s agenda in Barbados. Over the
years, we have shifted emphasis on movement and
active lifestyles. This gave way to the Movement Fest
which was held in alternate years with the Healthy
Lifestyle Extravaganza. We have sought to narrow our
focus even more to target individuals in communities
across Barbados. Thus, Get Moving Barbados was
conceptualised. The Get Moving programme aims to
get persons involved in active lifestyles and features
live aerobics sessions as well as free health checks. In
addition, The Healthy Lifestyle Primary School Project,
now in its 6th year, reaches hundreds of school children
from selected primary schools across Barbados. This
programme has since been amended to include summer
camps.
The healthy lifestyles programme has indeed achieved
its objective and companies have carried on the mantle
and have established and executed their own healthy
lifestyles programmes, of which we are indeed proud.
Our Greening Barbados programme was another natural
progression. Fuelled by our awareness of the environment,
we launched The Greening Barbados Project through
the Green Expo Committee. This public/private sector
initiative was launched to promote the protection and
conservation of the environment. It highlighted the state
of the environment with a view to changing bad habits
into responsible, sustainable ones. The Expo featured
environmentally friendly products and services. We here
at The Nation Publishing Co. Limited, have also taken this
message to heart and have embarked upon an internal
Greening initiative in conjunction with the Future Centre
19
In January 2010, our Caribbean brothers and sisters
in Haiti were ravaged by earthquake. We heard their
call and led by our sister company Starcom Network,
organised the “Help Haiti Now” Radiothon. Persons from
all over the Caribbean pledged their financial support and
some even made their way down to Starcom Network
to personally make their donation to the worthy cause.
US$1.2 million was raised.
The Arts is also an important feature of our events
calendar. Through a partnership with the Collector’s Club,
the award honors some of Barbados’ greatest artists for
their outstanding contributions to art on the island.
Literature students of the Barbados Community College
also benefit from the annual John Wickham Scholarship,
which is presented to the student or students gaining
the highest grades in Literatures. This scholarship is held
in memory of the late NATION columnist, independent
senator and literary editor and scholar who died in August
2000.
The University of the West Indies, another beacon in
Caribbean education is not to be left out. We continue to
sponsor the biennial Elsa Goveia Lecture, held in memory
of the late Professor. The sponsorship of various other
seminars, lectures and conferences are also high on our
agenda.
We are aware of the intrinsic humanitarian nature of our
Barbadian people and we simply try to do our part in
highlighting their valiant efforts. One of the ways in which
this is done is through the Romelle Primus Award for
Bravery and Human Kindness. This award, in honor
of the brave St. Leonard’s schoolboy who lost his life
attempting to save others, is done in partnership with
The Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown.
One of the best-kept secrets is the fact that the Nation
staffers also do their own outreach in Barbados and the
wider Caribbean. The Nation’s Humanitarian team has
aided persons in Grenada and recently Haiti. They also
engage in various fund-raising activities, which assist
many persons in need across Barbados. The Nation
Group is not limited to staging events only. We receive
numerous sponsorship requests on a regular basis. This
also includes organisations such as the recently-formed
Crime Stoppers and the AIDS Foundation of Barbados.
These are but some of the ways in which we aim to
engage our readers and to stay in touch with them.The
corporate arm of the company ensures that our public is
satisfied, not just with the printed product but also with
our ability to show our human side.
20
ALICIA COLLINS: ADOPTING THE GANG, GUIDING THE YOUTH.
As a child growing up in a single parent home, being the first of my mother’s two children I was always academically gifted. Upon my entrance in high School, I was a proud awardee of an academic scholarship presented by TDC Company Limited, that would fund my years of high school and college with the provision of uniforms and books as well as a training opportunity in their firm and many departments. This was an introduction to the world of work and its requirements up until my college years. My mother, being a strong dedicated woman, who multi-tasked her way through many jobs just to provide for our family still found time to instil both morale and spiritual values into the lives of my brother and I.
During my years of high school, I maintained grade A’s so I held on to my scholarship. In my final year of high school, I made some terrible choices and became impregnated. My life after that dived downhill, I suffered the great loss through a miscarriage, after which I became very ill and had to undergo two surgeries. When I had fully recuperated, it was too late for me to return to school without having to finance the 10 exams which I had qualified to write independently. My family was very poor and that would have been impossible for my mother and I to conquer so I went in search of a job. During those years I worked many odd jobs and had many health issues. After years of blaming and feeling sorry for myself, I began to assist less fortunate children with homework assignments and over the years, it resulted in a growing passion for me to dedicate my life to assisting any youth at risk.
During the year of 2008, my community began to suffer greatly because of the growing gang epidemic here in St. Kitts and a few of my friends became victims of gun and gang violence. On 31st of December 2008, I visited a church with some of the young men who are members of a gang in my community and as I sat there, I saw the look of hope on their faces and I heard the silent cries for help it was right
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then and there I pledged to myself to dedicate the
year 2009 to do every and anything possible to bring
about something positive in those young men lives. I
have always worked with youths but I had never done
anything so drastic before. In January of 2009, by means
of informal gatherings the young men all showed their
concern of earning an honest day’s living as more than
thirty (30) of them were unemployed. I wrote some
proposals and made appointments to meet the Prime
Minister, who was also the constituency’s representative
who educated me about a program that the Government
was launching that would have provided young persons
around the country an opportunity to learn a skill and
receive a weekly stipend while learning life skills. I reported
back to the young men and they were all excited for such
an opportunity for which they all signed up and became
attached to this program, receiving a stipend and learning
important skills.
During that period, we all organized different community
oriented activities such as basketball festivals, meetings,
community festivals, etc. I just wanted them to focus on
positive things and keep them involved. Some of them
were shot at, and some were shot, I couldn’t dare stand
the thought of losing one of them to the streets. Those
were some of my motivation to keep moving forward
with them regardless of the many negative responses
I received from not only persons within our community
but also persons from outside who knew the boys
personally. I have realised, that being in a gang is about
power, leadership, family, some of the same topics we
teach but they find it from negative sources. It was my
job to empower them, to show them they belong and to
let them realize their true value and worth. Some of them
are fathers and they are responsible for the lives of little
boys, so it was imperative for me to use persons who
they cared about as their inspiration and motivation.
Ever since the formation of the group, the young men
received less visits from the police, no one had gotten
shot or shot at for almost a year now. The gang still exists
because they are friends and they all enjoy being around
each other, but the level of violence has decreased
drastically. Kudos has been given by the police officers
from our district as they recognized the violence rate did
indeed decrease and they offered to assist in any
projects where their presence and involvement would be
needed. I don’t expect things to change in one day, we
are taking it one day at a time, also because of lack of
funds, there are many projects I would love to organize
for the group but I must make do with the resources
we now have. Fifteen (15) of the young men have been
released back into the world of unemployment because
the Y.E.S workshop training period has now ended but
efforts were made to gainfully employ ten (10) of these
individuals. They are now equipped with new life skills and
a different attitude towards life. I am working tirelessly to
have these young men quickly employed by approaching
members of the business community to assist our young
men. Many young persons were interested in making
positive contributions to our Community, I welcomed
their assistance as we now organized a movement called
Save Our Youths At Risk (S.O.Y.A.R).
We have also incorporated assisting the younger males in
the community as young as six (6) years old because even
though we are continuing our fight to save our boys from
the gangs we must also implement measures to prevent
our future generation from becoming gang members
as well. Also, to serve as a support for teen mothers
who have the great responsibility of our youth; we must
equip these young ladies with the proper tools to nurture
our future. One might ask who or what motivates me
to continue the movement, this motivation comes from
more than one factor (i) my mother is one of the strongest
black women I know, she kept on fighting for what she
believed in (ii) because I lived years of mistakes and I
was given a second chance, and I know just how difficult
it is to find motivation, inspiration and hope in a society
where individuals relish on your past and seldom gives
you the opportunity to correct your wrongs. That in itself,
just pushes me that extra mile to save even one young
person and let them know, your mistake can indeed be
a motivation to another iii) also I live the philosophy of, if
one youth is saved, that is a wholesome part of our future
that have been saved.
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REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST TINA, INSPIRING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.I was doing a master research project and was
introduced to the family and met Janice. What started as
an occasional visit to use the office computer became a
full blown friendship, and Janice has ended up a member
of our family.
Janice (not her real name) is a vivacious twenty year old young woman brought up in poverty in the tropical island of Dominica. She is passionate about developing her
country, and undertakes various social work projects
including a Meals on Wheels and Foodbank programme
for individuals living with HIV. She believes that it is
important for young people to reject a mendicant beggar’s
mentality. “We have a beautiful country and a strong and
healthy people, like our National Anthem says. HIV is a
problem but not a death sentence. No one owes us a
living, we have to work hard and we can make it.”
Losing her mother at seven to AIDS was hard enough
but being the only one of the three children to test HIV
positive was even harder. Rejected by her father she
was left in the care of her maternal aunt who also had
six children of her own and the care of her elderly mother
and mentally challenged brother. They all lived in a tiny
wooden house. Like the proverbial woman who lived in
a shoe, the Aunty hardly knew what to do to make ends
meet, but did her best to provide by making brooms
from coconut fronds and sending the children to fish or
pick guava from the trees.
Facing her CXC Exams at the end of her secondary
school career, Janice was not doing well physically. It
was hard to take the twelve pills a day required for her to
stay well and the side effects of nausea and drowsiness
were overwhelming.
Having regular meals and my consistent nagging about
medication has proved to really work as four years on
Janice is fit and well, and planning a long and fruitful
life. “I am not sure how to use the Associates Degree in
Tourism and Hospitality that I have, I am really interested
in community development or social work now!”
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THE BANANA MAN: THE MAN WITH THE RADIOHardworking, committed, patriotic, shy; and therefore
prone to anonymity, are some of the words which can
be used to describe the man who stood at the helm of
Windward Islands Farmer’s Union (WINFA) for the past
20 years.
A man referred to by many as the”banana man” or the
“man with the radio” because he kept himself informed
about World Affairs. He has been a tower of strength in
WINFA; moving it from an ordinary network of farmers
Organisations in the Windward Islands with minimal
activities such as training and farmers exchange, to an
internationally recognized Sub-regional
network of farmers. All of this was
done with minimal support from the
Windward Islands governments
and the private sectors. Such
an important feat cannot be
matched by many of his
contemporaries.
A man who has held
audiences spellbound
wherever he went, due to his
unique oratical skills and was
able to put the farmers’ issues on
the agenda of many important fora.
As a visionary, he had positioned WINFA
to withstand the external shocks brought on by the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) challenge to the EU
banana regime, where Caribbean farmers enjoyed
preferential treatment of the bananas exported to the
United Kingdom.
Recognizing the consequences of the competition the
farmers had to face up to from the big banana giants,
that such actions could have devastating effects on their
livelihoods, farmers were encouraged to diversify within
bananas and to sell their fruits under the Fairtrade label.
Renwick’s ideas were met with hostility and rejection
from policy makers and the leaders of the then regional
banana industry.
Yet he persevered, changing his tactics each time but
remained focused on his goal so that the farmers of the
Windward Islands would continue to have a stake in the
global market.
This introduction relates to none other person than
Renwick Ellsworth Adrian Rose who was born in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines to humble parents Reynold
and Germaine Rose of Stoney Grounds, Kingstown.
He had his primary education at the Kingstown Methodist
School and then to the St. Vincent Boys Grammar
School. After leaving school, he taught at the Kingstown
Preparatory School as well as lectured at the Teaching
Training College from 1965-1969. During that period, he
taught many individuals who are important in society
today. One year later he moved on to teach at
the Bishop’s College, Kingstown until 1973.
From 1973-1976, he worked as an
Account Clerk at the Development
Corporation.
During his stint
with politics, he
helped to build political
awareness among the mass
of Vincentian people, through various
media. He has also brought to the attention
of government the many issues that affect the lives of
ordinary Vincentians.
Mr. Rose has dedicated most of his adult life to working
in or contributing to groups and organizations locally,
regionally and internationally. He is the founding member
of the local Civil Society Forum and currently serves as
on the National Economic Social Development Council
(NESDEC) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which
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comprised Government, the Private Sector and Civil
Society. Rose also served on the National Constitutional
Review Commission (NCRC) where he played an
active role in setting the framework for a proposed New
Constitution for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
On the regional scale, he is Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre
(CPDC), an umbrella of regional NGOs, and a founder
of the Caribbean Reference Group (CRG), which is
involved in educational and advocacy work on Trade
Agreements such as
Cotonou, LOMÉ, FTAA;
and agricultural policy
issues.
He has led banana
farmers, especially the
women, through the
streets of the Eastern
Caribbean to protest
against the lack of real
support for development
in the rounds of
negotiations towards a
Caribbean Economic
Partnership Agreement
with the European
Union. These activities
included marches
and rallies under the
themes: ‘MAKE TRADE
FAIR’ and ‘STAND UP-
It’s about Livelihood.’
Mr. Rose attended
several for a organized
by the International
Fairtrade organisations in
Europe and the Fairtrade
Labeling organization to
address consumers of
the products.
He has held talks with Ministers of Agricultural and Trade,
as well the European trade representatives on bananas.
Mr. Renwick Rose is currently the Coordinator of WINFA
which is an Association of Caribbean Farmers in the
Windward Islands and agro processors. He pioneered
in the export of Fairtrade and has recently signed the
Sales and Purchase Agreement along with WIBDECO on
behalf of Windward Islands farmers. Today the farmers
of the Windward Islands are in control of the Banana
Industry.
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WINFA’s Coordinator is the Caribbean representative for the ACP civil society organization and participated in the European Commission Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meetings. He has also represented the Forum at ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and represents the organization at numerous international conferences, seminars and workshops.
His career spanned over 30 years as economic, social and political activist and also teacher and he has remained steadfast in his quest for equal rights and justice for all.
©2011 Caribbean Policy Development Centre. All Rights Reserved.