Bajans urged to go beyond one gift to needy

Barbadians and the business community are being urged to go beyond one-time donations and give more consistent support, if the national poverty alleviation programme is to achieve its objectives.

Project Manager of the One Family programme, Nicole Daniel, told Barbados TODAY that she was grateful for all help received thus far, but the original vision of One Family was to match 1 000 vulnerable families with 1 000 sponsors who could provide sustained monthly support. This support could take the form of a financial contribution, such as $200 monthly, or tangible assistance like a monthly grocery package of similar value.

“Some persons have been giving like the one-off donation, and doing it privately rather than having it publicised by doing a press release, so then we would still have those funds being utilised as well. But then we still need continuous support as well, whether it be persons like [the average Barbadian], who would sponsor a family and maybe give this person $200 a month or you can provide groceries worth $200 and provide it then to the family.”

She said that modest sum or grocery donation helps vulnerable families, because “the things that they will usually buy they no longer have to buy, but then they can use that money to maybe go towards maybe some utility bills, some arrears, etc.,” she explained.

Daniel noted that some donors have chosen to opt out of public recognition or press coverage. Regardless of how support is given, she emphasised, every contribution helps ease the financial burden on vulnerable families.

Launched in 2023 by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, One Family is a key part of the government’s strategy to eradicate extreme poverty. The programme combines financial aid with skills training and employment opportunities to help families achieve long-term stability.

Highlighting the training aspect of the initiative, Daniel said One Family has already seen dozens graduate from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, in areas such as culinary arts, pastry-making, home management, and construction. Currently, around 70 participants are enrolled in a three-semester nursing auxiliary programme.

Daniel said, “For the rest of the year, what we are planning to do in terms of the initiatives would definitely be our apprenticeship programme and entrepreneurship. I think that we have a lot of clients out there with a lot of skill sets, and we want to [help] persons who have a ‘side hustle’ or business that they would really like to expand and make some profit out of it.”

(SB)