Case Studies
Project Title: Happy Home Bakery
Type of Project: Income Generating
Organisation: Happy Homes Women’s Group
The Happy Homes Bakery operates out of the
Waterloo Community Center which is located at Coconut Village Waterloo Road
Carapichaima. The bakery is owned and operated by the Happy Homes Women’s Group.
Members of the group received their initial
training in culinary arts from Youth Training Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP)
and the Community Education Programme of the then Ministry of Community
Empowerment, Sports and Consumer Affairs. In 1997 with start up capital from the
Canadian High Commission the group comprising 4 women opened the small bakery.
In 2002, the Community Development Fund
contributed to the expansion of the bakery by providing grant funding in the sum
of $139, 800.00. These funds were used to provide additional training, a vehicle
and equipment in order to facilitate the group’s entry into the catering
business.
Although this group faced a number of business
challenges, the Happy Homes Women Group can boast that their bakery is a
household name in Carapichaima. In fact, the group is often show cased on
national television. The Happy Homes Women’s Group has been successful in
operating a sustained, profitable, income generating venture in their community.
The Happy Homes Bakery provides full-time
employment for 12 persons from Carapichaima and environs while continuing to
offer high quality products and catering services.
The Community Development Fund is pleased to have
contributed to the growth and development of the Happy Homes Women’s Group.
Project Title: Upgrading the Library
Type of Project: Human Resource Development
Organisation: Matura Women’s Group
The Matura Women’s Group is located at Orosco
Road, Toco Road, Matura. The group was originally formed in 1970 and revived in
1995. Over the last ten years of their existence, the executive has successfully
implemented a number of community-based projects aimed at developing the human
resource of their community.
The Matura Women’s Group is very much aware of
the limited access to educational and training opportunities/ services by their
community. Their mission is “Poverty Reduction through Education and Training”
and their primary function is to improve the standard of education and build
capacity in their community. This, they envision, can be accomplished through
the provision of necessary support systems for education and social support
service and creating opportunities for the disadvantaged and vulnerable persons
within their community. In this regard, they embarked upon establishing a small
library, which will serve to nurture the educational development of the young
persons in their community.
In 2002, the Community Development Fund provided
grant funding to the organization in the sum of $70, 500.00. These funds
contributed to the purchase of equipment to furnish the library. IN 2006,
additional funding in the sum of $16,300 was provided towards literacy training
for tutors and the hosting of personal development workshops in the community.
The Matura Women’s Group can boast of the
establishment of a community based support facility which is providing much
needed services to persons from Matura and environs. Over the years the facility
has been able to attract additional support from a number of local and
international agencies. This, together with the CDF’s assistance resulted in the
expansion of the facility. The community facility now offers a wide range of
services including home work assistance to the children, remedial assistance,
internet and photocopying services.
The presence of this facility in Matura has
engendered a greater community spirit as the community embraces all aspects of
the project.
The Community Development Fund is pleased to have
contributed to the growth and development of the Matura Women’s Group.
Project Title: Upgrading of Vocational
Rehabilitation Training Programme
Type of Project: Training
Organisation: National Centre for Persons with Disabilities
The National Centre for Persons with Disabilities
is located at 7-21 New Street San Fernando. The organization was established in
1964. It is a private non-profit organization involved in the development and
integration of persons with disabilities into the wider community through the
provision of specialized vocational rehabilitation programmes and the promotion
of employment opportunities.
In 1999, the Community Development Fund provided
grant funding to this organization in the sum of $121,865. These funds
contributed to the upgrading of the existing vocational and skills training
facilities as well as a community outreach programme in the County of Victoria.
The grant facilitated the upgrade and enhancement
of the assessment unit; food preparation, woodwork, printing and bookbinding
programmes at the Centre. Further, the grant funded the Community Outreach
component of the project which involved a survey of the needs of the disabled in
County Victoria and the sensitization of relevant NGOs/CBOs on the needs of the
disabled.
The implementation of this project resulted in
the successful implementation of the outreach programme as well as the training
of one hundred and thirty (130) disabled youths in work related skills. Also,
180 disabled individuals were provided with vocational assessment and 53
individuals representing CBOs/NGOs; Police Service; Fire Services; and
Government agencies in the County of Victoria were sensitized on disability
issues.
The National Centre for Persons with Disabilities
continues to be a pro-active organization working within the differently-abled
community. The organization creates an enabling environment for its students,
contributing to their self sufficiency and independence by providing the
relevant training to improve their marketability.
Project Title: Establishing a Welding and
Fabrication Micro Business
Type of Project: Income Generating
Organisation: Women of Steel
The Women of Steel organization comprised
six (6) graduates of the Non-Traditional Skills Training Programme of the
Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs. They are
specialized in the areas of welding and fabrication. This group established a
micro-enterprise which fabricates items such as steel doors, windows, tables and
chairs and operates out of #1 Kelvin Avenue, West Park, Cocyea Village San
Fernando.
In December 2003, Women of Steel was awarded a
grant of $ 21, 291 to finance the start up of their business. The funds were
used to purchase welding and fabrication tools, equipment, business development
training and other resources necessary for the start up of their business.
This business has grown over the years. The CDF
also provided the group with technical assistance through the services of a
development consultant to address some of the group’s operational challenges
that was experienced in the start up years
The organization has survived in spite of its
many challenges. Today, it fills orders from HDC home owners. The organization
has also been able to negotiate a large contract. Members of Women of Steel also
facilitate meetings of other women’s groups where they give motivational talks
and encourage other women to overcome their obstacles and pursue their goals.
The Community Development Fund acknowledges the
growth and development of Women of Steel and salutes this group who has been
able to operate in a field traditionally dominated by men.