COESL, WE WILL unite to support vulnerable women-led households

The Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL) and the Women Empowering Women In Lifelong Leadership (WE WILL) partnered with the Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (BANGO) in early September to assist over 30 vulnerable women-led families in Barbados. The organisations strategically selected fellow Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which are members of BANGO, and which service the most vulnerable, to benefit from this assistance.

The assistance was in the form of food and daily care items for families, including children and youth with allergies and other special needs. The organizations which were selected, based on their profile of service beneficiaries and vulnerability index ratings,include Ichirouganaim Council for the Advancement of Rastafari (ICAR); Lifelong Skills Training Inc; Barbados Council for the Disabled; Variety – The Children’s Charity and the National Organisation of Women.

This support was made possible through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Family Association in Barbados. Dr. Marcia Brandon, Managing Director of COESL and also Secretary General of BANGO praised both the IDB Family Association in Barbados and WE WILL for their dedication to improving the daily resilience of the most needy in Barbados, as well as improving the supply chain of BANGO’s members to meet the needs of the people they serve.

According to Dr. Brandon, “For me, as usual, it is all about ensuring that we assist the people who cannot assist themselves now, so that they can build their resilience and restore their dignity. It is also critical that we as CSOs help each other to grow.”

Rhea Brathwaite, Co-founder and Executive Director of WE WILL stated, “the assistance came at a crucial point in time, when so many families are struggling to put food on the table. We are honoured to have the opportunity to serve the Barbadian community, and in particular, to provide for women-led households.”

Debbie Grimes of Lifelong Learning Inc. was very grateful to COESL and WE WILL for the support and she noted that it came at such an opportune time, especially for one of the families her organisation supports. This vulnerable mother was very worried about what her children would eat over the next few days as she became unemployed and ill and had to be hospitalised over a weekend. “This is such a life saver, Grimes said, that is one worry off her head.”    

Brandon and Brathwaite pledged to continue the work to serve as many people as they can and help the CSO sector to build sustainability. As a respected expert and elder in the sector, Dr. Brandon noted that it is so heartening to see young professionals coming into the development sector. It is a sector which requires the 3Hs –Head, Heart, and Hands. I will do all I can to continue to mentor and encourage young persons, who have all three and have a strong desire to be the change.