Antigua
St. Vincent de Paul Antigua
Established in 1974, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is a non-governmental organisation inspired by Catholic values.
It was created to enable men and women to grow spiritually by offering services to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder the Venerable Frederick Ozanam and Patron St Vincent de Paul.
Dominica
Dominica Council on Ageing
The Dominica Council on Ageing was established in 1993 to improve the quality of life and campaign on issues affecting older people in Dominica. It coordinates groups across the country that are concerned with the welfare of older people.
The organisation forms senior citizens groups and co-ordinates training courses on violence and abuse, older people’s rights and healthcare. It has a range of outreach programmes, including daycare centres, radio talk shows, and the development of further groups across the country.
Dominica Council on Ageing became a HelpAge Global network member in March 2011.
Reaching Elderly Abandoned Citizens Housebound
Reaching Elderly Abandoned Citizens Housebound (REACH) was established in 1979 as a NGO that supports some of the most vulnerable older people in Dominica.
REACH provides homecare services such as home visits, bathing, laundry, distribution of food, house repairs and transport to health centres. They also distribute meals on wheels to local villages in order to meet the most basic needs of older people in the area.
So far, REACH’s greatest achievement has been securing free medical attention for older people aged over 60 at the local Princess Margaret Hospital. Furthermore, they helped to secure a 50% increase in funding for older people’s welfare in the House of Parliament in 2009.
REACH has been working with HelpAge International since 1985 and became a HelpAge global network member in 2004.
Dominican Republic
NTD Foundation
The NTD Foundation was established in 2010 by NTD Ingredients. It started as a provider of public homes for older people and today focuses on advocacy for older people, social inclusion and income-generating projects.
The foundation is a leader in the sector, contributing to comprehensive economic and social research, participates in national and regional advocacy initiatives and is an active member of the Central American network Aging with Dignity, supported technical and financially by HelpAge International. Coupled with this, the foundation is also the satellite centre in Central America and the Caribbean for the International Institute for Aging of the United Nation INEA.
NTD Foundation became a member of the HelpAge global network in November 2018.
Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas Inc (SSID – The Dominican Church Social Service)
SSID was established in 1962 with the support of the Church World Service as a non-profit organisation in the Dominican Republic. The organisation works to educate and train the poorest families so that they can be the creators and actors of their own future and development.
SSID is a key humanitarian actor in the Dominican Republic. The organisation played, for example, an important role in the provision of assistance in the effects of 2010 Haiti earthquake and in 2017 conducted a food security assessment about older people living in the rural areas of the country.
SSID is also part of regional and global networks including Act Alliance (coalition of more than 140 churches and organisations affiliated in more than 100 countries) and Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR).
SSID became a HelpAge global network member in October 2019.
Haiti
Haitian Society for the Blind (SHAA)
The Haitian Society for the Blind (SHAA) was founded in 1952 to increase visually impaired people’s inclusion and participation in Haitian society. The organisation provides assistance in education and healthcare, as well as other areas. It improves access to employment through management training courses, private tutoring and access to schools.
SHAA transcribes text books into Braile and provides training on how to read the writing system. It seeks to reduce the risks of diseases causing blindness in Haiti.
Jamaica
St Catherine Community Development Agency
St Catherine Community Development Agency, (SACDA) is a community based voluntary organisation. They are committed to improving the lives of children, older people and their families as well as strengthening local groups and organisations. Theydo so by promoting participation, self-reliance and sustainable development.
SACDA works in several farming districts in Jamaica and reaches approximately 7,000 people. The communities they work with are underdeveloped due to their remoteness and lack of infrastructure.
SACDA is governed by a board of Directors. The day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the Director who reports to the Board. Three Programme Officers, an Administrative Assistant and an Office Attendant complete the staff. The organisation also has registered members from the communities they work with and is a legal registered organisation.