Continuing in the footsteps of generations before, four 18-year-olds have successfully created two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – WeHelpTT and LetsGiveBack – with the intention to make a positive impact on the lives of the less fortunate.
These friends credit their passion for charity to witnessing those around them constantly giving back to the underprivileged.
When WMN spoke to the founders of WeHelpTT and LetsGiveBack, they expressed gratitude to their family members who played a positive role in shaping their perspective of charity work.
WeHelpTT’s Emma West and Emily O’Connor, students of the International School of Port of Spain, strongly believe that any form of help can make a great difference in the lives of those affected by hardships. “We may not think that it is so big, but it really counts,” O'Connor said.
With limited resources and funding, O'Connor and West said they dipped into personal savings to help people in any way necessary.
O’Connor said the joy on the faces of those who received help continues to drive them to help others.
West said the lack of sponsorship limits WeHelpTT's outreach but with pooled resources they were able to assist those who sought help from the organisation.
She thanked bookstores RIK services, Ink Stop and Keith Khan for assisting with a schoolbook drive in September. The drive provided books and school supplies to boys of Rainbow Rescue TT in Port of Spain at the start of the school year.
Their most recent project was a clothing drive to help a single mother.
Also in September, WeHelpTT contributed cleaning supplies to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (TTSPCA) in Port of Spain to assist with animal shelter maintenance.
“Animals also are important. I think that a lot of times when people are donating they forget about them,” O'Connor said.
In an attempt to assist Venezuelan migrants, WeHelpTT reached out to Living Water Community in Port of Spain.
West said the decision to donate hampers to the charity was based on the close relationship between Living Water and migrants.
“There are a lot of Trinidadians who are suffering as well, but a lot of the times Venezuelans are looked past because they are not from here. We wanted to help them as well,” West said.
[caption id="attachment_920619" align="alignnone" width="864"] Isabelle Laquis, from left, Emma West, Emily O'Connor and Savannah Laquis share a common goal to help the less fortunate through their charities. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
Cousins and founders of LetsGiveBack, Isabelle Laquis and Savannah Laquis, students of Maple Leaf International School, they said their passion for helping others reignited after witnessing the struggles people faced during the covid19 pandemic.
“We decided we wanted to make a change. A small act of kindness will change somebody’s life entirely,” Isabelle said.
LetsGiveBack started with the distribution of 130 food hampers to Diego Martin construction workers who were left unemployed during the recent covid19 lockdown.
The cous
