Castries, January 17, 2025 – Change is taking root across Saint Lucia as the Social Transformation Unit, a division of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment, spearheads a series of capacity-building initiatives designed to stimulate social development and strengthen community resilience.
Acting Deputy Director of Social Transformation, Kerian Calixte reflected on the unit’s recent outreach successes, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and community involvement while expressing gratitude to the generous donors who supported local families during the Christmas season. Calixte highlights the unit’s plans to continue collaborating with community-based NGOs and civil society groups, with a focus on capacity building to enhance their effectiveness in delivering support where it is most needed.
3:55-4:41“A lot of training opportunities happened during that period. We had social and behavioral change and communication workshops. We had domestic violence, media, and communications. So, towards the last quarter of the year, a lot of capacity building was done with our officers of the unit. As we enter a new year, I think the focus will be on continuing the relationship we have with the organizations to ensure that development takes place on the ground, as you can well appreciate, different communities have different needs, and some issues are central to all communities.”
Looking ahead, the Social Transformation Unit is also placing a renewed emphasis on volunteerism. Recognizing the power of collective effort, Ms. Calixte called on citizens to bring their ideas to the ministry, where officers are ready to help organize and mobilize initiatives that build stronger, more connected communities.
“If you have an idea, you want to a particular idea within the community or need, then you come, you speak to an officer, and we take it from there. If it’s a case where it means organizing persons together in the community, mobilizing them to get that going, then that can be done as, yes, can be arranged with our officers. Some of our officers are based within the ministry and they occupy spaces throughout the regions where they are based. It’s a case of being on the and trying to reach as many people as possible. We’re also trying to create a production where we can reach more people in Saint Lucia.”
Through collaboration, support, and strategic initiatives, the Social Transformation Unit works to ensure meaningful connections throughout communities to uplift individuals and contribute to the collective growth of the nation.
Contacts:
Anicia Antoine, Information Assistant (Ag.), Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment
T: (758) 468-5146, E: anicia.antoine@govt.lc
John Emmanuel, Communications Manager, Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment
T: (758) 468-5131 E: commanager.equity@govt.lc
Charmaine Hippolyte Emmanuel (Ph.D.)
PERMANENT SECRETARY
Tel: 468 5108/5125/5194 Email: pssec.equity@govt.lc
