Campaign for Change - BE INVOLVED. BE THE CHANGE!
The goal of this project is to try to raise funds for at least 12 months. Each month, various organisations will benefit fromt the funds raised...sometimes it will be the same organisation, but most times they will be different, from month-to-month. karen@mokshayogatrinidad.com.
THE ISSUES:
1) ANIMALS 2) CRIME
 
3) DISCRIMINATION 4) DOMESTIC ABUSE
 
5) ENVIRONMENT 6) POVERTY
 
FIRST RELEASE - FUNDS DISTRIBUTION
Funds raised from this first batch of Paw Print Karma Tags will be distributed to the T&TSPCA to help with their care of stray animals and to Wildlife Orphanage & Rehabilitation Center (W.O.R.C.),
Trinidad and Tobago.
The T&TSPCA
The T&TSPCA is a voluntary charitable organization dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals and the prevention of cruelty to such creatures. It was established in April 1895 as a branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and celebrated its centenary nine years ago. In 1946 they were incorporated under Government Ordinance No, 30 and successive Governors have been their Patrons until Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic in the sixties. Since then successive Presidents of the twin island Republic have assumed sponsorship of the Society. However, they do not receive any financial aid from Government despite this status. Much of the work at the Shelters is carried out by voluntary staff who have a love for animals and without whom these shelters would have had to close their doors many years ago.
They are funded solely by public donations, support from corporate entities and by their own fund raising efforts.
Wildlife Orphanage & Rehabilitation Center (W.O.R.C.), Trinidad and Tobago
The Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Center is the only certified rehab facility on Trinidad and Tobago, and as such, attracts a large case-load of indigenous wildlife. Some animals brought to the Center require only a physical examination and a night to feed and regain their strength before being released. Other animals, require up to a year in the facility before they are capable of survival in the wild.
The Center operates in accordance with current wildlife rehabilitation standards.
W.O.R.C. is an incorporated non-profit company, staffed by volunteers and funded by private and corporate donations. W.O.R.C. is at present the only registered wildlife rehabilitation facility on the island.
W.O.R.C is dedicated to providing care, medical treatment, recuperation and rehabilitation to orphaned, sick, displaced or injured native birds and animals, with the goal of returning them to their natural habitat.
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This month, funds raised from the OM (Peace) Karma Tag will be distributed to the YMCA's youth program.
THE YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM
Background:
Our outreach work began as a Street Youth Outreach program in 1995 working exclusively with displaced boys in POS, Trinidad between 11-13 year olds. This category of street children comprises those who are not involved in any constructive program and spent the majority of their time on neighbourhood blocks, town or city streets, idling their time or engaging in negative activities.
Since our inception we have broadened our scope to incorporate youth at risk and displaced youth, changing our focus to include behavioural modification of adolescent boys on extended suspension from public secondary schools and vocational training centres.
The program grew into a department with projects that addresses issues that affect the communities where some of our excluded young people live. It was formally renamed the Community and Youth Outreach Department in the year 2000.
The Program:
Our program is centered on support groups and individual counseling sessions facilitated by trained and experienced staff.
We also utilize recreational therapy as a means of teaching life/social skills, teamwork and limit setting. As a means of introducing discipline and organizational skills the young people are also expected to prepare their own lunch daily, clean up after themselves and engage in community service work i.e. environmental clean ups etc.
Prior to 2000 the program worked with 10 boys directly from the street, we have since been taking referrals from the Ministry of Education, Probation services, other NGOs or word-of-mouth. The program interfaces with their parents/guardians, relevant referral agencies and where necessary home visits are arranged to conduct more thorough evaluations of their situation.
1) Monitoring Indicators will include:
- Punctuality & Attendance
- Implementation of Plan of Care
- Analysis of Daily assessment forms
- Ongoing reflective meetings with parents
2) Impact Evaluation will include:
- Completion of Pre & Post questionnaire
- Participant’s articulation of their current understanding of where they are in life.
- Feedback from the participants parents & teachers
3) LIFESKILLS: Skills for survival and self-empowerment
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This month, funds raised from the Equality Karma Tag will be distributed to two places - a home that houses kids with HIV/AIDS - The Cyril Ross Nursery and to a woman - Veronica, who was fired from her job because she HIV positive, who has two young children - a young daughter who is also HIV positive and son who is negative, but still ostracised. They are currently homeless as a result.
To find out more on the Cyril Ross Nursery, visit http://www.svdptt.org/cr_nursery_2.htm.
Here is the story of "Veronica"...CLICK HERE!
This documentary was developed by Elspeth Duncan...a friend and a true advocate for change!
VERONICA GETS HER HOUSE!!!
For those of you who have been checking the Karma Yoga page out and have been following the story of Veronica...SHE GOT HER NEW HOME!!! Veronica is a woman with two kids who became homeless due to the fact that she and her daughter are HIV positive. Elspeth Duncan made a documentary about her and in turn was the driving force behind getting her a new home built with the help of Habitat and others. To find out more CLICK HERE!
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We finally figured out what to do with the Domestic Abuse funds!!!
We've decided, with the help of Allyson Hamel-Smith, that we will pay for counselling sessions for a victim of domestic violence or abuse. Once we have a person, we will get updates and post them on this page. So keep checking with us to see who our recipient will be.
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This month, funds raised from the Recycling Karma Tag will be distributed to Sun Eaters Organic Market to help with the construction of large recycling bins to help with the communtiy recycling program. The rest of the funds will go toward the Fondes Amandes Re-Forestation project...details on this project to follow.
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We are not sure where the funds should go for this cause as yet, but if you have any suggestions, please contact Karen Blackman at karen@mokshayogatrinidad.com.
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To book your Karma Tag and if you and/or your organisation is interested in helping to sponsor a month of this Campaign, please
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