As families begin the new school year, the Vieux Fort Regional Office of the Department of Equity, Social justice, Gender and Older persons through its Welfare division, continuing its tradition of supporting vulnerable families, this year taking an important step further by giving back to the very communities it serves.

For years, the Office has relied on the generosity of local and overseas donors to provide school supplies and other assistance to vulnerable families and children across the communities it serves, namely Micoud, Dennery, Soufriere Laborie and Vieux Fort.

Among those making a difference is Mrs. Vernita Alexander, whose continued donation of school supplies has helped families meet the demands of the new school year. The Office also continues to benefit from Dr. Patrick Joseph’s ongoing clothing drive, which provides clothing assistance to vulnerable Welfare clients.

This year, however, staff at the Vieux Fort Office asked a simple question: If others can give back to the families we serve, why can’t we?

The answer led to the creation of a new initiative by a group of staff members affectionately known as the “Not Easy Crew.”

For the first time, the group has personally adopted a school child and provided financial assistance towards the child’s educational needs for the new school year. The team intends to make the initiative an annual September tradition, adopting and supporting a child each year, moving forward.

For the Not Easy Crew, the gesture is about more than the financial contribution. It is about demonstrating that compassion can extend beyond the services provided by the Welfare Department and that everyone has the capacity to make a difference.

The Vieux Fort Regional Office sees its role as extending beyond the provision of social assistance. At its heart is a commitment to compassion, community and human dignity.

The generosity of donors, combined with the willingness of staff to give back, demonstrates the power of collective action in supporting vulnerable families and creating opportunities for children.