The BB Trust Inc: Promoting Francophone Cooperation In French, Tourism, Culture, Agriculture & Environment

“In the heart of  our Nature Island, in the midst of abundant wealth, there is too much poverty. ” I recall this observation being made to me in the early 90s by a French lady. Her name was  Nicole Yvonne Buchet, born Nicole Farahid, 26^th February 1921, died Sunday 19^th October 2008.

Over her more than 25 years of annual visits to Dominica, Nicole became very dear to my family and to Dominica. I remember one Saturday, whilst swimming in the sea at Scotshead, Nicole asking me the question, “ what can I do to help these poor young people who are always begging me for money?’ I pondered upon Nicole’s question over several nights. The  following Saturday as we sat at “Chez Wren”, a local restaurant in Scotshead, sipping our glass of red Bordeaux and  waiting on our lunch of fried “gros coulee” with steamed green bananas,  slices of dasheen, yam on a bed of lettuce and tomato salad, my answer to Nicole’s question came. I said to her, “I think that one of the best things you can do to help these poor young people you spoke about, is to help with their education and training, so they can find jobs.”

“How do I do that”, Nicole retorted, “I do not live on the island?”  “It’s quite easy”, I replied, “ you can set up a Trust or a Foundation, deposit a capital sum of money into it in perpetuity, the Trustees could then invest that money,  with the interest and profits from the investment would go towards the Education and training of young people whose parents cannot afford the cost of College.” Before their vacation ended, Nicole Buchet, and her son Thiery Boyer, had set up the BB Trust.

                        When Do People Change ?

  E.one.Caribbean repeated Nicole’s observation in last week’s column, and in its quest to find solutions to the serious challenge  of reviving the NGOs Sector to lead the Change in Dominica and the Caribbean, from Poverty for most to Prosperity for all, we begged these two questions: (1)  When do people change from accumulating wealth, to giving it away philanthropically?  (2)  Must it wait for wealth to become a burden rather than a comfort, or must it wait until we die?  We went on to take a glimpse at how different philanthropists in Dominica have dealt with or are dealing with these questions.

Among them we looked at one of the very early philanthropist, Dawbiney; we looked at the Elias Nassief Foundation and the Eden and Emelia Baptiste Foundation, both established after their deaths;  we looked at two living philanthropic initiatives,  DREAM Foundation lead by a very young Dominican, and the Jungle Bay Philanthropic Initiative, lead by a young Corporation. We also highlight the National Development Foundation, which is different from the others, and referred to as a Social enterprise initiative.  As we observe the month of March as Francophone month, and  20^th March as International Francophone Day, this week we salute the B B TRUST (EDUCATIONAL,  AGRICULTURAL AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION) INC. and its benefactor, Madame Nicole Yvonne Buchet.

                      The BB Trust Scholarship Program

“The BBTrust Inc. is a Francophone non profit organization (NGO) supporting youth Education and training in French language, Tourism, hospitality, Culture, Agriculture and Environment.  BB Trust Inc. is a shining example of Francophone cooperation in the non profit sector. Its benefactors were Mme Buchet & her son Thiery Boyer from Paris, France. To date The BB Trust has awarded over 100 young Dominicans (2 ) year scholarships to pursue Associate Degrees at the Dominica State College; the total estimated value is above EC $300,000.00.
The Board of Directors of BB Trust Inc. join the National Francophone Commission, Alliance Francaise and other international Francophone NGOs and Francophone Benefactors , in honouring  International Francophone Day, 20^th March 2015.”.

                Le Programme de bourses BB fiducie

“Le BBTrust Inc. est un organisme francophone à but non lucratif (ONG) à soutenir les jeunes l’éducation et la formation dans la langue française, du tourisme, de l’hôtellerie, de la Culture, de l’Agriculture et de l’Environnement. BB Fiducie est un brillant exemple de la coopération francophone dans le secteur à but non lucratif. Ses bienfaiteurs étaient Mme Buchet et son fils Thiery Boyer de Paris, France. A ce jour, Le BB Trust a accordé plus de 100 jeunes Dominicains         bourses de (2) années de poursuivre des études associés au State College Dominique; la valeur totale estimée est au-dessus EC $ 300,000.00.
Le conseil d’administration de BB, Fiducie Inc rejoindre la Commission Nationale Francophone, l’Alliance Française et d’autres ONG internationales francophones et francophones Bienfaiteurs, à honorer   Journée internationale de la Francophonie, 20 ^e Mars 2015. ”

Conclusion

    Board of Directors matters

The success of the BB Trust Educational Foundation has as much to do with its sustainable income as with its capable and committed Board of Directors. Upon the initial establishment of the BB Trust, Nicole sought and invited persons of integrity, whose interest she thought were aligned with the purpose of BB Trust, to serve as its Trustees, and later Members of the Board of Directors. She invited myself Norris Prevost, a businessman and close friend whom she trusted; the late Mr. Gordon Moreau, a trusted public accountant, The law firm of Joan Prevost & Mary Roberts, Mrs Dorothy Leevy, then Principal of the Convent High School, Mr. Felix Wilson, then Principal of the Dominica Grammar School, Ms Vernice Bellony, a Community worker of outstanding reputation, and Ms Janelle Prevost, a young graduate from MIT and The Harvard University Business School. Nicole also had interactions with the Alliance Francaise, in an effort to build Francophone cooperation between Alliance Francaise and The BB Trust Inc. On the occasion of Francophone Day 2015^th, the Board of Directors of BB Trust Inc, salutes and thank Madame Nicole Yvonne Buchet and her son Thiery Boyer, for their caring for the young people of Dominica and for their generosity and professionalism in establishing the BB Trust Inc. To contribute to the BB Trust Inc, contact any of the Directors:

President: Norris Prevost 275-3420, Sec.: Dorothy Leevy 448-2812, Treasurer. Felix Wilson 2754747

Directors: Vernice Bellony 445-3115, Janelle Prevost: 1- 6175018314. Benefactors: Nicole Buchet. & Thiery Boyer