Families in Action Celebrating 25 Years
Families in Action founded by the late, beautiful and dynamic Ivis Gibson, celebrates 25 years as a legally incorporated, non-profit, non-governmental organisation on April 22nd 2013.
We emerged out of a burning need
In 1988 Ivis Gibson received the devastating news that an employee of her personnel agency had killed his own mother for money to support an addiction to cocaine. The menacing white dust capable of bringing, even the strongest to their knees, had newly hit the streets of our nation. As the warrior that she was then and continued to be, Ivis decided that she would don armour in the battle against addiction and its threats to devastate the family. With help from other dedicated and concerned citizens, Families in Action was born as a volunteer based Drop-in Centre for persons and families challenged by cocaine, alcohol and other addictions.
Families in Action has evolved
We made strides along the way, expanding and changing as the social issues faced by our nation morph. Yet the primary focus of our organisation remains the family and improving Family Life. In addition to counselling, we provide services in the following areas:
- Outreach services to communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago
- Addictions Support Programme Services
- Counselling Services for individuals and families
- Employee Assistance & Workplace Support services to the corporate world
- Parenting Programmes
- Youth Education Programmes at both primary and secondary school levels
- 24 hr. Hotline Listening Services
- Domestic Violence Support Group for Women
- Vacation Programmes for Teens only
- Hotline Listener workshops.
- Distribution of Hampers at Christmas time
We remain dedicated
Our journey has at times been arduous, but we remain unswerving on our course to serve the nation. In the face of threats of eviction, three corporate benefactors came to our rescue to secure for us our home on #82 Maraval Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Additionally, in spite of perennial funding cuts and funding shortages, due to the generosity of private and corporate benefactors, internal fund raising initiatives, umbrella Ministries and the establishment of our Employee Assistance Departmen,t we keep our doors open. It takes much doing but we are on a quest to provide services to those who may not be able to pay and to serve our nation by reaching out to both rural and urban communities, with particular emphasis on our parenting and youth education programmes. We do this because we strongly believe that caring and nurturing our youth should be the responsibility of able and equipped parents.
We take some time to Celebrate
For our nation we’ve cried, with our nation we’ve laughed. As a family we have mourned the death of our founder, and under the guide of our prudent Managing Director Elizabeth Spence, resilient Board of Directors and with our committed and dedicated staff, we have re-grouped and moved forward with hearts filled of love for our country and each other. Taking the time to celebrate milestones gives us the strength to keep going so at this time, as a family and with our friends and well wishers we celebrate our twenty fifth year. The following are some of the activities we have planned:
|
MONTH |
PROPOSED DATE |
EVENT |
|
March – April |
|
‘Faces of the Caribbean Family’ Photo Competition and exhibition |
|
April |
21st |
Thanksgiving Mass, Walk & Picnic for FIA staff, board and friends and their families |
|
22nd – 26th |
Discounted fees for family counselling
|
|
|
May |
25th |
Families Who Can Cook Fundraiser An Evening to Remember |
|
June – April |
29th |
Youth in Excellence awards to past/present Peer Helpers who’ve added great value to their schools |
|
Sept |
|
Session on Healthy Relationships targeting teachers from neighbouring schools |
|
Oct |
|
Session on Healthy Relationships targeting students from neighbouring primary schools |
|
Nov |
|
Session on Healthy Relationships targeting students from neighbouring secondary schools |
|
Dec |
|
Annual Food Hamper Day |
|
|
2nd instalment of the FIA E-Newsletter |
|
|
Jan 2014 |
|
Session on Healthy Relationships targeting parents from neighbouring schools |
|
Feb 2014 |
|
Short session in office targeting fellow NGOs |
|
Mar 2014 |
|
Short session in office targeting EAP companies ‘Dealing with a troubled employee/ co-worker’ |
|
April 2014 |
22nd |
Half-day seminar with a focus on Healthy Family Life |