On December 17, the United Way T&T shared $2.3 million with NGOs so that they could fulfil their tasks of helping people in need just in time for the start of the new year.At a cheque distribution ceremony held at United Way's office in Port-of-Spain, 15 NGOs received financial support for the work they do.The recipients were: Bridge of Hope; Families in Action; Amica House; Vision of Hope's; Joshua Home; Goshen House; Consortium of Disability Organisations; Coalition Against Domestic Violence; The Social Justice Foundation; Moms for Literacy; Heroes Foundation; Mamatoto Resource and Birth Centre; Raffa House; National Centre for Persons with Disabilities and the Kernaham Centre for Community Development.
The monies received will assist in developing the groups' respective programmes for positive results and sustainability.United Way is dedicated to the advancement and uplifting of society, particularly focusing on family life, youth and education. The group of strongly-governed NGOs reflected the ideals set by UWTT to better deliver social services.Maureen Arneaud, president of the Social Justice Foundation, welcomed the assistance from United Way.The Foundation received $250,000 in order to continue working with disadvantaged youth in rural areas. "We have to teach them how to dream," she said.One of the programmes it hosts is The Good News Media–training youth to be professionals in the field of video production. The programme includes internships at local television stations. Among its successes this year is the screening of five films at the T&T Film Festival.
At the end of the distribution of cheques, Clive Belgrave, director and chairman of the United Way Marketing and Events Committee, emphasised the solution to assist society does not lie exclusively with governments."As such, groups like the United Way do yeoman work," he said. "An outpouring of support from government may be ideal...but look at Haiti, people are still making ends meet. In the United States, there are still people suffering the effects of Hurricane Katrina."Belgrave told the representatives of NGOs that this country could only get better if the contributions made by such groups create an accumulative impact as opposed to people waiting on government to assist."That makes a whole difference," he said.Last month, United Way distributed $1.2 million among seven NGOs.This year, the organisation allocated $4.4 million to some 26 NGOs. The group has distributed $36 million over the past decade.