Young women in society continue to face challengers and challenges head-on and excel in all fields of pursuit from academia to any given career. However, there are those who continue to excel in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. These are the types of young women the Network for Non-Governmental Organisations of T&T is seeking to honour in its fifth annual Young Woman of the Year award 2012. On May 9, the award was formally launched at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation Auditorium, corner Taitt and Cumberbatch Streets, Chaguanas. Marcus Kissoon, chairman of the award committee, said the venture is aimed at honouring young women who have distinguished themselves in the fields of agriculture, arts and culture, business enterprise, community work, environment and sports. Nominations are open to all communities, and nominees must be T&T nationals between the ages of 18 and 30, who have never received any national or international award or accolade. Forms can be obtained at the network's office, Professional Centre, Wrightson Road Extension, Port-of-Spain. Completed forms should be submitted no later than noon on July 6, along with a two-page profile of the nominee and nomination letters from two people who have known the nominee for at least two years.
Accolades for initiative
Minister of State in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development Ramona Ramdial, addressing the launch, commended the Network for its initiative of honouring young women. She said NGOs "should play a more important role in encouraging young women in decision making organisations, for example in politics." Margaret Sampson-Browne, manager of the Victim and Witness Support Unit of the Police Service, also commended the organisation for recognising the need to highlight women who make a difference in society. Sampson-Browne said, there are still critical issues affecting women that need to be addressed, highlighting the rising number of cases of abuse against women as one of them.
"When we stop talking then we stop acting. So we have to continue to talk about our children who are being murdered, our adults who have to protect children from adults because there are a lot of silent adults in our homes who are allowing our children to be mauled, abused physically, sexually and they say nothing," she said. Often, she said, adults do not want to touch that hand that offers help and support "our children because it interferes with our financial and social structure." She called on citizens to rise up for their children and not stay silent any more. "We have to be able to stand up brave and say this is happening and we are prepared to march into hell for a heavenly cause," she said. "As individuals, as mentors, as adults as children and as young people we have to come together in this Trinidad and Tobago and work towards building and strengthening our human capital. We cannot sit back and say it is not happening in my community."
• Please forward all nominations to:
The Young Woman of the Year 2012 Award Committee
PO Box 410,
Port-of-Spain
Or e-mail: networkngo@mail.tt
Or fax: 627-4807