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  JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence In Trinidad & Tobago

  Honoring NGOs in Trinidad and Tobago that are making a difference while innovating and using Best Practices

  Learn more about the Award

Call for 2013 Nominations!

The 2013 competition for the JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence in Trinidad and Tobago is now open.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 1, 2013.

Download the Award Brochure (715 KB, PDF)

Download the Application (286 KB, PDF)

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Award Info

The JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence in Trinidad & Tobago was established to honor local NGOs, CBOs and civil society organizations that are national models of excellence, improving their communities and utilizing best practices in non-profit management.
 
The purpose of the award is to:

• Formally honor the NGO, CBO and civil society profession and communicate the positive impact that these organizations have in the communities, villages and neighborhoods throughout Trinidad and Tobago;
• Highlight the best practices of NGOs (effective management, accountability, good governance);
• Identify emerging trends and underrepresented areas in the sector;
• Identify key leaders who will shape the sector.

Following a merit-based selection process, a one-time award of $5,000 US will be awarded.  These funds must be used towards the strengthening of the organization’s structure and/or education of its staff.

The winner will be honored during an awards luncheon at the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago NGO Professionals Seminar being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad on May 15, 2013.

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2012 JB Fernandes Award Recipient

Vision on Mission was named the 2012 recipient of the JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence in Trinidad & Tobago Vision. The organisation achieved this recognition for their comprehensive rehabilitation efforts and restorative programs aimed at ex-inmates in Trinidad and Tobago. The JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence in Trinidad & Tobago celebrates non-profit organisations that are national models of excellence, improving communities and utilizing best practices in non-profit management. The award is funded by the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust through the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and is administered by IIE.

"Receiving this award from such a highly respected organisation further validates Vision on Mission's work and in particular the clients we serve," said Wayne Chance, the organisation’s CEO. "We hope that winning the JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence will help raise the visibility of Vision on Mission as well as the pressing needs of ex-prisoners, at-risk youth and socially displaced members of society in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Dedicated to ex-inmate rehabilitation, re-education and re-integration, Vision on Mission was founded by Mr. Chance during his incarceration at a Port of Spain prison. His goal was to create an organisation that allowed newly released inmates to successfully re-enter the larger society, secure gainful employment and access housing in Trinidad and Tobago.

In addition, Vision on Mission also serves as advocacy body, raising public awareness and working with government ministries and other stakeholders on issues that affect incarcerated individuals and ex-inmates. As the winning organisation, Vision on Mission received a $5,000 US monetary donation and was honoured on Friday’s welcome dinner at the 2012 T&T NGO Professionals Conference.

“We are firm in our conviction that civil society organisations can play a pivotal role in creating new models for social change in Trinidad and Tobago,” stated Luisa Fernandes Chapman of the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust. “Therefore, we are committed to helping our local NGO sector improve its management, financial, and programming capacity. This conference and tonight’s award are symbols of that commitment.”

The benefit of receiving the JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence will truly be felt throughout the organisation, given its plans for the $5,000 donation. Although Vision on Mission was started 12 years ago, it is a young, vibrant organisation still working toward achieving sustainability and committed to growing its client programs.

Today, Vision on Mission is focused on completing a 53-acre agricultural facility that will provide employment for nearly 100 clients, many of whom have limited job opportunities. With the award's financial donation, Vision on Mission will continue to develop the farming facility, which currently involves socially displaced men in farming agricultural crops, animal husbandry and tilapia aqua-farming.

These products are sold to hospitals, restaurants and other institutions, helping Vision on Mission achieve sustainable employment opportunities for clients. In the next five years, the organisation hopes to transition to growing organic produce and expand of the animal husbandry program.

Visions on Mission’s future plans also include establishing new facilities to serve young juveniles and young women through work programs (as an alternative to prison) and rehabilitation opportunities respectively.

2012 Special Recognition Awards

Adult Literacy Tutors Association
Executive Director: Paula Lucie-Smith

ALTA strives to provide free and effective adult literacy classes; develop and publish local adult literacy materials; create and maintain a bank of trained and experienced professional literary tutors; maintain resource libraries of materials and teaching aids for ALTA tutors; and support literary efforts within NGOs, the workplace, and government organizations. The key success of ALTA has been in its student intake – 2000 registrants each year for the past two years. ALTA has also created sustainable programs including resource libraries, training programs, free classes as well as published literacy martials that have not only benefited their own participants but other NGOs and government initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago, as well.

The Cotton Tree Foundation
Executive Director: Allyson Hamel-Smith

The mission of The Cotton Tree Foundation is to improve life chances for the residents of St. Anns, Cascade, Belmont, and East Dry River through education and strategic partnerships with private and public sector enterprises. Programs include an Early Childhood Care and Education Centre; The Homework Centre; Community Outreach Sport; Parent Support Activities; Youth Volunteer programs; Art Projects; and a Legal Aid Clinic.

Mamatoto Resource and Birth Centre
Executive Director: Debrah Lewis

Mamatoto is committed to establishing community based, accessible, equitable and innovative childbirth services. This is achieved by offering comprehensive counseling; education, care and support to healthy women and families during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period in a free standing birth centre.

Roxborough Police Youth Club
Executive Director: Jumellia Nichols

The Roxborough Police Youth Club in Roxborough, Tobago, was formed to provide discipline for young people in the community and to develop a positive and healthy lifestyle with an aim of reducing crime. Its vision seeks to be the premier agency to foster growth and empowerment of independent and disciplined youth. The Club has been a monumental fixture in the Tobago community for its devotion to and impact on youth through diverse programing such as the Night Football Tournament, Young Scholars Homework Centre and its newest initiative: the Roxborough Culinary Arts Centre.

SERVOL
Executive Director: Martin Pacheco

Born out of the Black Power Riots of the 1970s, Servol has empowered people in poorer rural areas through innovative educational initiatives that benefit children and parents. It focuses on the Parent Outreach Programme; Day Care Centres; Early Childhood Programmes; Junior Life Centre Programmes; Special schools for differently–abled children; and Adolescent Development and Skill Training Programmes.