November 1st 2022
NCF Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Thanksgiving
by NCF
Persons who rendered tributes at the thanksgiving service held that morning at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Castries, sought to reminisce on the generosity of the many thousands of donors and other supporters who have contributed the NCF’s successes over the past twenty years.
Former NCF Chairperson, Martin Weekes, recalled the sacrifices and contributions made by the various NCF chairpersons, directors and committee members over the years.
“They, in the greater part of their hard work and dedicated service, were the ones who decided it was their duty to contribute to the leadership and management of this noble organization,” Weekes said. “Not only because of the intended beneficiaries, but because of the contribution it made to nation-building.”
He added: “During their stints, they provided for the NCF major assistance in things like the organizational policy direction, strategic development, and the implementation and general support to the Foundation, as they worked in step with the Executive Directors and the staff. Each one of these Executive Directors graced the NCF with their own peculiar skills, talents and styles, and each certainly left their individual footprints on the organization.”
Long-time committee member and NCF honoree, Agatha Jn. Panel, also spoke at the thanksgiving service. She recalled the NCF first awarding 13 scholarships in 2003. By 2004, that number shot up to 76. Since 2004, the NCF has consistently awarded scholarships and bursaries to Saint Lucian students, except for 2009. In 2022, the NCF awarded 20 scholarships and 12 bursaries.
“It may interest you to know that our children (who receive scholarships and bursaries) come from every part of Saint Lucia, every school,” Jn. Panel, who has served the NCF for 19 years, said. “Once they perform and we see the need, these children are awarded scholarships.
Students who have benefitted from the NCF scholarships have gone on and excelled in various professions. They have become doctors, policemen and policewomen, teachers, civil service workers, bankers, firefighters, entrepreneurs, tradesmen, architects and medical technicians. Right now, we have 9 students attending university.”
Those in attendance and viewing via live stream were edified with the knowledge that the establishment of the NCF was the brainchild of Hon. Emma Hippolyte, when she served as the Director of the National Insurance Corporation. She subsequently served as the NCF’s first Chairperson and at the church service, she remarked that the initial vision of the NCF remains relevant today as the COVID-19 pandemic and other critical factors have resulted in many more people needing assistance.
“It seems like just yesterday when we embarked on transforming the NIC (National Insurance Corporation) with the main objective of bringing the NIC closer to the people and making it more relevant to the people of Saint Lucia,” Hon. Hippolyte said. “This transformation resulted in the establishment of the NCF, a philanthropic organization, where all Saint Lucians, no matter how small, make their contribution.”
Established by Parliament Act No. 26 of 2002, on October 24, 2002, the spirit of giving generously has been the central theme espoused at the National Community Foundation (NCF).
With most of its programmes sponsored by volunteers and donations from individuals and organizations, the NCF can be best described as the “National Koudmen”.
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