To provide better opportunities for clubs across District 7030, the Empowering Girls Team reached out to various organisations that have similar goals and ongoing activities, projects, and programmes with which Rotary/Rotaract clubs can partner in the facilitation and execution of  club projects centered on one or more of the goals of empowering girls.
 
The United Nations Spotlight Initiative is one such effort that is actively seeking to work with local communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and in particular, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
 
With specific activities and approaches developed for respective participating Caribbean countries, the Spotlight Initiative not only demonstrates common goals and objectives as Rotary International's Empowering Girls Presidential Initiative, but it also provides an opportunity for Rotary & Rotaract Clubs to take part in one or more existing and pre-packaged activities which they can readily adopt, onboard and execute as part of a current or planned club program, project or activity centered on empowering girls.
 
Within Trinidad & Tobago, several opportunities for Rotary/Rotaract clubs to get involved exist and include:
  • Helping to raise awareness of GBV and VAWG among club members and other organizations
  • Advocating for an end to GBV and adoption of national strategic plan
  • Assisting with the development of GBV Case Management Studies and Standard Operating Procedures for and training of law enforcement
  • Educating/Training young persons on GBV
  • Supporting and promoting campaigns to end GBV/VAWG so the word gets out to the right audience
  • Assisting with the dissemination of information and promoting of services to differently-abled individuals and groups
  • Joining a coalition of CSOs to monitor and hold state agencies accountable for commitments on ending GBV/ VAWG
  • Participating in capacity-building programs for CSOs to better design and implement projects, to have MOU frameworks and strategic plans in place, and to improve reporting
  • Applying for small grants (up to US $30k) for specific and impactful interventions or projects that can end GBV/ VAWG and/or that can strengthen institution capacities to create or continue to provide services that can end GBV/ VAWG 
 
To get you and your club (in Trinidad & Tobago) started, please review the following information:
 
Additionally, for any clubs interested in pursuing grant applications, please note the deadline of 21st April 2023 for a Grant Application to be officially submitted. To expedite the grant application process, any and all (draft or final) submissions for grants must be sent for review at least 3 days prior to submission deadline date