The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services hosted its first ever Social Worker of the Year Awards ceremony on May 11, at the Hyatt Regency, in Port-of-Spain, to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of social workers attached to the ministry.
A total of 39 social workers from various divisions and local board offices were recognised for their efforts towards improving the lives of the vulnerable population of Trinidad and Tobago.
Third place winner of the Social Worker of the Year, Nyiida Andrews, left, and deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Wendy Guy-Hernandez.
Line minister Donna Cox commended the social workers for their ceaseless dedication and effort to support those in need, and stated that their efforts demonstrate their passion, perseverance and dedication to helping, empowering and transforming lives.
“Social workers serve as a true testament that with determination, endurance, discipline and the right attitude, one can push through and overcome the hurdles. I hope that your peers can be inspired that recognition at the highest level is within their reach and would continue to aspire towards this goal,” said Cox while sharing some words of encouragement to the social workers present.
National Social Development Programme (NSDP) director Patricia De Leon-Henry, left, collects the Minister’s Cup, the highest honour that can be awarded to a department, from Minister Donna Cox.
The Social Worker of the Year award went to the social worker with the most exemplary reputation of success in the ministry’s social work landscape—Farisha Mohammed of the National Family Services Division.
Mohammed serves on the management committee of the St Jude’s School for Girls’ and the Josephine Shaw Transitional Home for Young Women.
Her personal motto by which she lives is “Be the adult you needed as a child,” which has served as a motivation to transform families through building resilience and empowering children with a strong sense of self-worth so that they can grow into well rounded and resilient adults.
Avinash Rampersad, left, director of D Rampersad and Company Ltd; Luann Joseph, who collected on behalf of her father, Victor Joseph, who placed second, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Ryan Ramcharan and Gertis des Vignes, TSTT’s ICT product manager.
The National Social Development Programme and the National Family Services Division were also recognised for their outstanding efforts in advancing the work of the ministry.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services congratulated all social workers for their hard work and commitment towards improving the lives of the vulnerable citizens of T&T.
The other finalists were:
- Victor Joseph- Social Welfare Advisor at the Chaguanas Local Board
- Nyiida Andrews- Inspector I at the Division of Ageing
- Aleena Mohammed-Karamath- acting Supervisor at the Chaguanas Local Board