WAND rounds off year with Christmas luncheon

FOR THE past 18 years, the Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (WAND) has been in the business of giving.

Since its 1998 inception, its accomplishments have been far and wide among them being awarded the National Medal Gold for the Development of Women.

The group continued its work toward assisting underprivileged women and children in our society through its charitable drives done throughout 2016.

At its recently concluded, annual Christmas Luncheon it was announced by its president, Jan Bocas Ryan that the group will be supplying 14 community centres throughout TT with computer equipment. The 2016 Christmas Luncheon was held at Hyatt Regency Trinidad, on November 4.

The project will be launched on November 15 this year.

The strains of Spontaneous Sounds filled the room as scores of women and a handful of men gathered for the 16th annual Christmas Luncheon.

It drew the presence of the US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, John L Estrada and wife, Dr Elizabeth Estrada, as well as Sharon Rowley, wife of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Justice Nadia Kangaloo and other high court judges, MP for Laventille West Adrian Leonce and MP for Toco/Sangre Grande Glenda Jennings-Smith and Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, Secretary of Community Development and Culture, Tobago House of Assembly among others.

Bocas Ryan told the audience the 14 community centres throughout TT will benefit from the work done by the charity over the past year.

In her address she said, “These funds are being spent in education, 14 community centres throughout Trinidad and Tobago will benefit from computer equipment through this grant.

We have partnered with the University of Trinidad and Tobago who will play a key role. Trinidad Systems Ltd is also playing a major role in overseeing the hardware, delivering and co-ordinating installation and ensuring transparency.

“The Ministry of Community Development co-ordinated our site visits to the community centres and successfully negotiated with Flow for free service for one year to all 14 centres,” she added The organisation received a donation of TT $500,000 from the The Price Philanthropic Foundation, California, US. As well as receiving TT $100,000 from a private citizen as well as having its gala ball ‘well-attended.’ The pilot project done at Romain Lands/ St Francois Valley Road Community Centre in Morvant was credited for its success.

The organisation, Bocas Ryan said, was also actively working on rebuilding its Transition Home at Coora Camp, Siparia for the residents of WAND Drug Rehab Centre, Palo Seco run by New Life Ministries.

Throughout the year, WAND gave to several groups among them the Cascade School for the Deaf which received 43 special books with videos for the hearing impaired.

The organisation also partnered with Servol to provide two early childhood centres. One in Belmont and the other in South Port-of-Spain.

“At St Martins in South Port-of-Spain, we completed general works and provided a kitchen where there was none before.

We then turned to the toddlers at the Paradise Heights in Morvant.

That Centre received, infant beds, cribs, books and other play items.

The screen will paint the picture of some very happy faces.

In addition to these projects, for the third year running, we were able to assist two young paraplegic women with diapers and toiletries as their existence depends on others like you,” she closed.

Those gathered at the event were also treated to the fashion of Charu Lohcan Dass and entertained by vocalist, Natasha Benjamin.