#BuildBackBetterCaribbean Ep 1 - Volunteer Center of Trinidad and Tobago Connecting people to causes that support the Sustainable Development Goals.
Podcast
About this episode
In this episode of #BuildBackBetterCaribbean, the podcast of the UN Information Centre, Lindy-Ann Edwards-Alleyne interviews Giselle Mende, Chief Volunteer and Founder of the Volunteer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (VCTT) .
"Volunteering is about building the type of society we know is possible,” says Giselle. VCTT connects people who want to change the world to other people, causes and organisations that need support through a global pandemic.
Giselle describes the “deepened need” for volunteers during a health emergency that has triggered an economic and social crisis. She describes how VCTT is responding with creativity and innovation as it adapts to the “new normal” of volunteering, and volunteerism’s role in building a “better tomorrow” for the #Caribbean.
About the #BuildBackBetterCaribbean podcast series
Living with COVID-19 is about adopting behavioural changes, adapting to social disruption, and absorbing the economic impact of the pandemic. It’s our brave new normal of survival. Prevailing over the pandemic will mean applying its lessons to not only recover but to emerge stronger and more resilient.
Caribbean civil society - already in the business of social transformation – is still leading the struggle to protect human rights, improve lives and fortify communities, but now in a changed, post-COVID context: one that demands urgent, direct action to overcome the impact of the pandemic but that also presents opportunities to rebuild better and move faster towards the #Caribbeanfuturewewant.
The United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area wanted to hear directly from civil society organisations (CSOs) about their own experiences supporting clients through the global pandemic emergency, and how they perceive their roles in the rebuilding that must follow. Also, how the Sustainable Development Goal framework is supporting this reconstruction of lives and livelihoods to achieve an inclusive, peaceful, sustainable development vision.
The #BuildbackbetterCaribbean podcast series of conversations on the post-COVID Caribbean, captures CSO insights on their pandemic experience and their stories of recovery and rebuilding as they draw on the SDG toolbox to construct a brighter, more durable and resilient Caribbean future.