Historic Groundbreaking Ceremony for TCAAF

December 02, 2006 - Providenciales, Turks & Caicos: The Turks & Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new youth center being built on Providenciales. This was a signficant milestone for the organization and for the country overall. The new center will be open to everyone in the community and will be located just off Leeward Highway behind Turks & Caicos First Insurance.

Speeches

PAST
THE TCAAF WAS STARTED IN 2003. THE HONOURABLE GALMO WILLIAMS, OUR PATRON, TAPPED US ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID CAN YOU HELP. MOST IF NOT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS DISEASE, THOUGH LOSING FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THROUGH THIS COMMON BOND WE ALL FELT THAT IN MEMORY OF OUR LOVED ONES WE COULD HELP TO CREATE AWARENESS AGAINST STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION.

IN 2003 WE ADOPTED THE CATCH PHRASE "AIDS… IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS". WE LAUNCHED A MONTHLY TV SHOW, HOSTED BY BOARD MEMBERS DOREEN QUELCH- MISSICK AND DR. DAWN O'SULLIVAN. OUR PRIMARY FOCAS HAS BEEN YOUTH. WHY YOUTH? YOUTH ARE THE MOST AT RISK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THROUGH NUMEROUS FUNDRAISERS LIKE THE ANNUAL JADOT CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT, AS WELL AS BEING THE BENEFACTORS OF FUNDS RAISED IN THE CHIEF MINISTERS CUP AND THE HORSE RACE NIGHT HELD BY PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD YOUTH FORUMS., LIKE THE WALK ON MIDDLE CAICOS, FEATURING BLAKOUT, THE TALK AT BRAYTON HALL WITH DR. RUFUS EWING AND 5 YOUTH WHO ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE, WHERE BILL GATES AND PRESIDENT CLINTON WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

AS TIME WENT ON WE FELT THERE WAS A NEED TO HAVE A YOUTH CENTRE HERE ON PROVIDENCIALES. AN INDIVIDUAL STEP FORWARD TO ASSIST US WITH THIS PROJECT WHICH WE ARE HERE TO DO THE GROUND BREAKING FOR TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. ED GATRTLAND.

PRESENT
AS WE ARE EVOLVING THE TCAAF HAS FELT THAT OUT MESSAGE SHOULD EVOLVE AS WELL, INSTEAD OF "AIDS… IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS" WE NOW WILL USE THE CATCH PHRASE "AIDS… HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE". OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THE SAME WITH OUT PRIMARY FOCUS ON YOUTH AND ERADICATING STIGMA AND DISCRIMIANTION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DISEASE.

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE AN OFFICE NOW; AT SUZY TURN PLAZA AND THAT EW HAVE AN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE JEAN SAVORY, WHO WILL BE ADMINISTRATOR/ COORDINATOR FOR THE TCAAF. JEAN WILL BE IN THE OFFICE AND WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TCAAF, BRINGING IT TO IT'S NEXT LEVEL.

WHAT IS THE NEXT LEVEL? MEMBERSHIP! WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE AT THIS TIME THE LAUNCHING OF OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE. (SEE BROCHURE) OUR TARGET FOR THIS YEAR IS 500 MEMBERS

HON. GALMO WILL TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH CENTRE.

FUTURE
WHAT WE ARE SEEING FOR THE FUTURE IS MANY PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO HELP WITH YOUTH PROGRAMS, FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER VIA THE YOUTH CENTRE AND HIV/ AIDS ON THE DECLINE AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT.

AFTER ALL WHAT IS COMMUNITY, BUT COMMUNICATION IN UNITY.

HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.