Individuals told to eradicate poverty in communities

Over 120 individuals from across Dominica, who were empowered in various skills through a United Nations-funded project, were told that they now have the knowledge and the power to elevate their poverty stricken communities.

That advice came from Social Development Planner Amonia Paul at the closing ceremony for the Capacity Enhancement and Empowerment Program (CEEP) at the Goodwill Primary School’s auditorium.

Food Preparations, Sewing, Leadership, Arc welding, Parental training, computer repairs were some of the programs offered by the program, which ran from October 2013 to January 2014 in the areas of Dubique, St. Joseph, Portsmouth, Gutter and other areas.

“We now look forward in following these participants, as you engage in entrepreneurial activities … those of you who might commence your catering service, those who have found new knowledge and skills and want to improve their livelihoods or might want to do alternatives to enhancing your income,” she said.

According to Paul the program is a follow-up to recommendations made in the Growth and Protection Strategy to address challenges of poverty and deprivation in specific localities.

“So a Social Transformation and Empowerment Program (STEP) was developed,” she stated, adding that CEEP was sort of an “attempt to commence implementation of some components of the STEP with existing resources within the various government departments while tapping on additional resources to ensure successful implementation of the project.”

She said project was designed as ‘response mechanism’ to the 2009 Country Poverty Assessment (which is the last data collected on poverty status in Dominica). According to the report the community of St. Joseph has the highest head count of poverty in Dominica standing at 47.2 percent and the parish of St. Andrew has a head count poverty of 38.1 percent.

The program, was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at a cost of EC $46, 575.20.