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Context for project:
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), over four million Venezuelans have left their
country to flee the economic and political crisis. An estimated 40,000 have chosen Trinidad and Tobago due to its proximity and historical ties.
Although recent government registration allows for access to work and some basic social services, many remain undocumented and living in precarious conditions. Instances of violence are rare, but there is mounting tension with local Trinidad communities with concerns overs jobs and strained resources.
This Global Grant will bring together members of the host community and the Venezuelan community to collaboratively design and implement socially beneficial businesses based on the Pillars of Positive Peace and Social Cohesion within the context of a Community Hub.
Mediators Beyond Borders Int'l (MBBI) and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) will partner with local NGO, Cashew Gardens, and Rotarians to facilitate the training and support required for successful implementation and sustainability of these projects.
The expected outcome is an increase in social cohesion and economic performance in the
community at large. In order to achieve these goals, we will:
o Conduct a Community Assessment - an analysis of human and institutional assets and
gaps inside and outside the target communities.
o Informed proposals and initiatives that are both Vocational and Humanitarian in scope and nature
o Facilitate the design and co-development of a Community Hub to connect people with available resources and identify gaps where capacity building is required.
○ Conduct training and capacity building workshops by leveraging resources and
skills within the community and those from outside expertise as needed.
o Foster dialogue by providing space and expertise to help the immigrant and host
communities in bridging the divide and finding common ground, and train women
in the community in conflict resolution and mediation.
o Facilitate the participatory co-development and implementation, from the
grassroots, of a joint (immigrant and host community) pilot business project plan
with a focus on food security.
o Validate and produce reliable results that are more able to be expanded and replicated in similar Venezuelan communities in the region.
The project funds will be used for training in positive peace, dialogue and conflict resolution and for the supports needed so that both local Trinidadians and migrant Venezuelans are able to attend training and develop a business plan for implementation. These supports include administrative supports through our local partner, Cashew Gardens, child care, transportation, and meals, as well as stipends for trainers and experts. Local Rotarians will be contributing expertise in business development and agriculture. They will also be trained in Positive Peace and conflict resolution along with the host and migrant community members.
The timeline for the initial phase of this project, for which funding is being sought, will be 3-6 months with a goal of developing the second phase based on the implementation of the business development.
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