Service clubs across Barbados have been challenged to assist with the execution of the One Family Programme which is being administered by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.
Acting Minister, Corey Lane, made an impassioned plea for assistance for the programme, which is designed to assist 1, 000 vulnerable families and 2, 000 persons living with disabilities, as he addressed the Lions Club of Bridgetown’s 62nd Charter Dinner, at the Hilton Barbados Resort on Saturday night.
Noting that the programme was valued at $162 million, Mr. Lane said his Ministry was granted just $3 million to execute the project.
However, he tabled a proposal divided into four parts which he put to the Club for consideration. That includes between $3 and $6 million for administration; $57 million for current Government services; $7 million in cash donations and $83 million in kind contribution.
“I believe that the Lions can assist in this, in three ways – in time, talent and treasure. If you start with treasure, that is the easiest part. Certain things will cost money. It costs to care. So, a part of our Adopt-A-Family Fund, wherever possible, you are looking at ways that we can raise funds and put down some good fundraisers to be able to put cash into the programme to pay for the things that must be paid for,” he said.
The acting Minister further noted that Government would also be looking to service clubs for their time and talent to add value to the programme.
He explained the programme was built on seven pillars, the first of which was a programme of family dynamics, counselling and behavioural change.
“One of the things I have recognised through the years is we have done a lot of social protection programmes in Barbados…. [But], at the end of the day, we have got to move people beyond dependency. So the days of handout and social protection…has to be placed behind us. It must be just used as a stabilising effect,” Mr. Lane stated.
He noted that the second pillar related to a Personal Identification Programme to ensure that vulnerable families had birth certificates, ID cards and passports to allow them to travel on various work programmes, and make themselves more marketable.
“The $57 million that I spoke of in Government services, we will be looking to waive the fees and that will be absorbed…. But, you may need people to volunteer…to pay for lessons for a family, to ensure that they can have that critical driver’s license which makes them more attractive as an employee, helping them to gain employment,” the acting Minister said.
The area of health and wellness promotion was also identified as another phase of the programme where preventative check-ups will be introduced. Another area is the employment and business creation to generate income for vulnerable families.
Mr. Lane also identified housing as another pillar where service clubs could assist, noting that as it relates to housing, 10, 000 persons were currently in “dire” need of homes.
Adding that another pillar was providing income and social benefits to stabilise families, he said: “Too many people you go by, the water is off, the electricity is off and we believe that persons will continue to need that stabilisation. The combine effort of the seven pillars is what will bring us through and bring us home nicely.”