Barbara needs sponsors for her ‘special’ clients

when she spotted a young man lying in the bushes. So she stopped, called the ambulance

and on learning that he was a student at the Goodwill Industries Vocational Training Centre, also alerted those in charge there.

And this is how this story began, through Setti Lawrence, who was kept overnight at the

Port-of-Spain General Hospital. In following up about his condition, my family met Barbara A l l e y n e , C h i e f Executive Officer, who came to Goodwill in September 1998 for six months and is still there nearly eight years later.

This English-trained nurse who lived abroad with her five children for more than

30 years, spearheads the fantastic work that goes on daily at 9 Fitz Blackman Drive, Wrightson Road Extension. This she does on a very small budget, which means that she has a “wish list” of the many things needed to make life a little more comfortable for her staff of 21, and 112 “special” clients (as Alleyne refers to her charges).

In highest priority is an empty 40-feet container to store stuff; followed by steelpans for the children who love music; shelves for the library which stands tiled and waiting; and fittings for the Computer Room. Overall, stresses Alleyne,

“We need corporate sponsors. If they call we will tell them the kind of help we need. We are not in a position to host fund-raisers like a poor man dinner since 70 percent

of our students are from the depressed areas.

“We try to help ourselves like with car parking for stadium events but take the case of the

match against Bahrain, we were not advised by the Football Federation that they planned on closing this street and when we could have made about $3,000, got nothing as the TTFF just blocked off the road and so private car parks further away made money

while we didn’t. Mr Camps owes us that money,” she said with a smile.

Goodwill Industries was founded in the early 1950’s by Ursa Chow Quan, in a shed on the grounds of the then House of Refuge at St James (now the Cancer Hospital), and moved to its present location in 1971. Chow Quan had seen this sort of nonprofit operation in Washington DC, and it functioned at first mainly as a Sheltered Workshop offering rehabilitation and training in skills to the disabled and disadvantaged. Today, under Alleyne’s guidance, there is a whole world of varying activity which few people know about, as the centre tries to be self-sufficient while providing employment, vocational and academic training, rehabilitation of persons with physical and mental disabilities, and also assist the socially disadvantaged attain their fullest potential.

The 112 clients are trained in skills such as screen printing, small appliance repairs, cabinet making/carpentry, glass etching, batik, upholstery, welding, dressmaking,

cooking, making jams, jellies, wine and preserves which are all sold at the centre, also bread, cake and pastries. Services in these areas are offered to the public and

also in others, which we find difficult to get done at reasonable prices, such as the making of aprons for nurses and other personnel and book binding. Last week the “clients” were making dozens of rosettes for the Power Gen Special Children’s Fun Day at

Penal, which they also attended and won.

“They are learning basic living skills,” said a dedicated Alleyne, “because we have the lower functioning persons, many are autistic, some are Down’s syndrome. We

have to give them a chance and although many ministries give, we need the others to be sensitive. We need a little bit of charity from corporate people, it is discouraging

when I write a letter and they do not even reply.” However, Alleyne continues the struggle with a subvention from the Government which pays salaries, but has to

cover four percent of operational costs. Whatever is given to Goodwill, is used :

“ Nothing wastes here,” she said, “and there is always a dropoff point for whatever items

are brought to the centre. We accept everything. For example, used clothing; what cannot be used we cut into rags and sell.”

Every year 500 lettuce and 500 patchoi are non-organically grown for which there is a ready market.

The complete crop was stolen a few weeks ago by intruders, yet another source of income lost in addition to the car park rental during the World Cup semi-final match.

There are some even more special youngsters. Davin Deochan has been short-listed

for the June 2007 Special Olympics in the equestrian category.

Dexter Phillip, not only autistic but type 1 diabetic and insulin dependent,

is unemployable but with a sponsor will be able to put his colouring book which he has made into print. Sergio Williams (power lifting) and Ishmael Perpignac (400 metres) both brought back medals from the Special Olympics in Ireland two years ago. There are others like Ricardo Gonzales whom Alleyne says is “the best sander; if a factory will only have patience he will get it done according to the grain.” Only modern methods are employed in teaching these “special” students so that there is close

supervision whether it is in the spotless kitchen, beautifully tiled library or instructions in literacy and numeracy.