PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Monday, December 8th, 2008 — The Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) celebrated a major milestone on Monday, December 1, 2008 – World AIDS Day: the official opening of the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre.
Establishing a first-class youth centre has been a major initiative of the TCAAF since young people are the most at risk from HIV/AIDS. The Edward C. Garland Youth Centre, located in downtown Providenciales, is open weekdays from 2 to 8 pm and 10 to 6 pm on Saturdays free of charge to youth between the ages of 12 – 24.
Run by one full-time director, a part-time program manager and a team of volunteers, the Centre is funded entirely by private donations and is designed to engage kids in programs and activities to help them thrive and prosper.
"I'm so proud of this Centre and what we've done together as a community to serve our young people – the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands," said Hon. Galmo Williams, patron of the TCAAF. "From the start, the response to this project has been tremendous and we are so grateful for the support and cooperation we've received. We couldn't have done this alone and thank everyone who played a role in this project.
"Special recognition goes to Mr. Ed Gartland, for initiating the idea and providing infinite support; the TCAAF for their passion and commitment to drive this project forward; the construction team, led by Mr. Peter Kerrigan, who consistently gave 110 percent; to the corporate sponsors who provided much-needed funding and to the numerous individuals and businesses who volunteered, provided discounts, services and donations. This is truly a community effort and one will have a long-lasting, meaningful impact on TCI."
The evening included a tour of the fully furnished Centre, a raffle, an auction and the sale of handcrafted, ceramic remembrance leaves. The leaves, which can be purchased in various sizes and include the names of loved ones, will be added to a "tree of life" mural at the Centre. As support for the Centre grows, so will the tree; signifying its vital role in the community.
All construction and operational costs of the Centre have been covered by the generosity of the community in the form of private donations and discounted services. The construction team consisted of Conservative Architects and Pioneer Construction along with EDS Ltd, Building Services Design, Tucker Hill Landscaping and I Lite U.
For his role as the lead project manger, Mr. Peter Kerrigan received a special certificate of appreciation from the TCAAF for the leadership, passion and enthusiasm he exhibited.
The corporate sponsors who have stepped forward with significant financial donations include FirstCaribbean International Bank, the Gartland Family, Ashtrom Construction, Mr. Armin Theiel and Scotia Bank. These sponsors funded three main rooms while funding is still being sought for other rooms and operational expenses.
Building and opening this Centre has been a huge endeavor that started as a single idea, was brought to life by a core team and now must be nurtured and sustained by the community as a whole.
The Centre is not simply just grateful for the community support received but absolutely 100% dependent upon it. To continue to operate, on-going funding and partnerships are required. The goal of the Centre is to provide our young people with opportunity and hope. But, it has already done much more than that - it has enabled the community to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS and enrich the lives of our youth.
The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre
The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre has already attracted eager and curious youth, some of which form the Youth Advisory Board that guides the programs and activities of the Centre. Initial programs have included beach cleanups, art and dance classes, poetry reading and writing workshops and peer education training.
The mission of the Centre is to:
- Empower teenagers with the information, skills and confidence they need to cope with the challenges of daily life;
- Create a safe and inspiring environment where teens can broaden their awareness and understanding of global and social issues and develop life skills;
- Engage the community in making a positive impact on the youth and
- Provide equal opportunity for all young people regardless of heritage, religion or ethnic background
For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, contact Meghan O'Reily at 331-9602 or
meghan@aidsawareness.tc or visit:
www.aidsawarenes.tc.
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