A chance to flourish

WOMEN- OWNED Media and Education Network (WOMEN) recently launched the fourth cohort of the Flourish: Empowering Resilience and Integration Programme on at the Longdenville Community Centre.

The programme was launched in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and with support from Republic Bank through its Power to Make a Difference (PMAD) programme.

Now in its fourth year, Flourish supports skills development, economic empowerment and social inclusion among local and migrant communities. The programme has graduated 115 participants across its first three cohorts, helping them develop practical skills and explore opportunities for greater independence.

Running from October 31, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the fourth cohort will engage 55 participants in vocational training in sewing, carpentry, hydroponics and the programme's newest offering, nail technology. Introduced in response to participants' interests and requests, nail technology will expand the opportunities available for employment, entrepreneurship and income generation.

Participants will also benefit from workshops in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and integration, alongside activities that encourage inter-cultural understanding and strengthen relationships between migrant and host communities, according to a release from Republic Bank.

Fair opportunities

Speaking at the launch, Kendine Creed-Harry, manager, Republic Bank Ltd, highlighted the bank's commitment to supporting opportunities that help people develop their abilities and build more secure futures. She stated: "For us at Republic Bank, supporting stronger communities means paying attention to whether people have a fair opportunity to participate and build a life for themselves. It means recognising the potential in our neighbours and supporting the conditions that allow that potential to develop."

Republic Bank has supported Flourish for the second consecutive year through its Power to Make a Difference programme, reflecting its commitment to education, financial inclusion and community development, sated the release.

Lucia Cabrera Jones, founder and CEO of WOMEN, emphasised that Flourish extended beyond vocational training by helping participants develop the knowledge and confidence to pursue economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.

Thanking Republic Bank for its continued support, she said its "commitment goes beyond sponsorship; it is a powerful investment in people, their potential and their future. When an institution chooses to support a vision, it creates an opportunity. But when it returns to invest again, it sends an even stronger message: We see the value, we believe in the impact, and we want to help it grow. Through its Power to Make a Difference programme, Republic Bank is demonstrating the transformative power of investing in learning and skills development".

Jones said WOMEN is "deeply grateful for the bank's continued confidence in Flourish and for being a partner in creating opportunities that can change lives, strengthen families and build more resilient communities".

Social and economic pressures Representing IOM, Desery Jordan-Whiskey, Officer in Charge, IOM Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the long-standing collaboration between IOM and WOMEN. She noted that the partnership had created opportunities for migrants and nationals to acquire practical skills, develop confidence and leadership abilities, and work towards sustainable livelihoods.

Jordan- Whiskey also acknowledged the role of private-sector support in advancing inclusion and community development, commending Republic Bank's continued investment in Flourish.

"At a time when communities face increasing social and economic pressures, Republic Bank has shown that private-sector investment can be both commercially responsible and socially transformative. Its support goes beyond funding a programme; it represents an investment in people's potential, in stronger communities and in a more inclusive and sustainable future," she stated.

LAUNCH: Kendine Creed-Harry, from left, manager, Investigations and Reporting, Group Compliance Department, Republic Bank Ltd; Desery Jordan-Whiskey, officer in charge, IOM Trinidad and Tobago; Lucia Cabrera Jones, WOMEN founder and CEO; Kandy Serrant, reporting and communications officer, IOM Trinidad and Tobago, and Nerina Brace, senior official, CSR Management and Strategic Support Group Marketing and Communications, Republic Bank, at the launch of the fourth cohort of the Flourish: Empowering Resilience and Integration Programme at the Longdenville Community Centre.

ENGAGED: A cross-section of the participants.