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2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Weseeour investment asanopportunity tocreateanewgeneration
of fully literatecitizens; it isachance for us tohelp improve theflow
of communicationbetweenparentsandchildren; it isanopportunity
to improve family relationsand it isanopportunity for our children
todevelopsound reasoningskillswhichwill help themcome
tomoreamicablesolutionswhen facedwithchallenges.
understanding of the need for an institution to facilitate autistic
children and their parents and caregivers. Raising an autistic
child is a mammoth task, and it is our hope that through our
support of the Autistic Society, that each day another parent
will wake up with a stronger grasp as they prepare a new day
with their autistic child. It is our hope they will have the patience
to work with their son or daughter day after day, through the
training that is offered at the Society. It is our hope that our
Nation will achieve a greater awareness of the Spectrum,
removing many of the attached stigmas.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 30%
of cancers could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key
risk factors including: tobacco use; being overweight or obese;
low fruit and vegetable intake; physical inactivity and alcohol
use. Statistics have shown, however, that many citizens are
not aware that certain cancers are preventable and that early
detection can result in more effective treatment and a longer
lifespan. We believe knowledge is power and the more our
citizens know about the types of cancers that affect them,
the risk factors and preventative measures available, the more
empowered they would be to resist the disease. Our focus on
cancer awareness and detection has increased with each year.
Through our partnership with the Trinidad & Tobago Cancer
Society we took up the challenge to increase awareness, as far
and as wide as we could. Our annual Edufest programme for
Secondary Schools and our extension of the programme into
the Primary school arena, allowed us to educate our youth so
they can make the right choices and understand that early
detection is critical. Cancer is more than a diagnosis. It changes
the lives of its victims, their families and their friends in more
ways than one can imagine. We know only too well that simply
wanting things to improve is not sufficient and it is necessary
to take a stand and do something about it. Our partnership
with The Breast Cancer Support Group brought a clearer
understanding of the effects of this disease and we were happy
to offer support to those who have survived this disease. The
fight against the scourge is an ongoing one, but it is one that
we are determined to continue.
Our focus on the
Power to Help
, this year, saw us working
with Bridge of Hope to build Olive’s House, a Senior Citizens
Home. We previously supported Bridge of Hope’s haven for
abandoned, orphaned and abused children and have seen the
great benefits redound to those who were a part of it. Olive’s
House is another step toward building the Sangre Chiquito
Community and we chose to support it because it allows for
interaction between youth and the elderly. We understand that
there are priceless, intangible tidbits of wisdom that our youth
can gain from our elder citizens. Our contribution was directed
at the Home’s Multipurpose Hall, which includes a lounge,
entertainment area, kitchen, pantry, hair salon, therapeutic
massage centre and games area. The Nation needs centres
like these for its overall advancement – centres that focus on
both the young and elderly of our society. A Nation’s youth is its
future but there must be an example for them to follow and a
past fromwhich they can learn so that they may avoid the same
mistakes and make the ‘good’better.
Shelter is one of the basic needs for human beings and there
are many who are forced to worry, daily, that they will very
soon be without that bare necessity. Through our partnerships
with Habitat for Humanity, however, that worry has been
eliminated for many. In the last year, we have worked with
Habitat for Humanity to provide six financial literacy training
sessions for 175 people, with the aim of helping them learn
to financially support themselves. Four new homes have been
built in Trinidad, with another under construction in Tobago.
Nine homes have undergone major structural renovations. We
will continue to work with Habitat for Humanity, focusing on
making life just that much easier for one more family at a time.
The CREDO Foundation for Hope and Justice was established
by members of the Holy Faith Sisters and partners in 1993, and
operates four Drop-in centres. In 2007, a fire destroyed the third
floor of the 19 Nelson Street CREDO Centre, which catered to
boys in the street and the Nelson Street area. The Foundation
members set out to create a new facility at 24 Nelson Street,
and it is this centre toward which we directed our support. The
Centre is designed to offer Drop-in Recreational, Training and
