The High Commission of Canada has announced a contribution of CAN$101,000 to three non-governmental organizations in Dominica through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
Following a competitive proposal process, Lifeline Ministries Inc., Kibe’Kuati Inc., and the Dominica Olympic Committee were selected as part of nine CFLI projects in the Eastern Caribbean for 2024-2025.
Over $60,000 to Lineline and Kibe’Kuati
Building on last year’s success, Lifeline Ministries Inc. will receive CAN$30,000 for the second phase of its ‘Lifeline Safe Refuge Project,’ which provides safe accommodation and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This funding will also enhance intake services for a local SGBV helpline supported by the Bureau of Gender Affairs and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust.
Kibe’Kuati Inc. will receive an additional CAN$36,000 to expand its education and rehabilitation program for SGBV survivors in the Kalinago Territory. This program includes academic guidance, vocational training, childcare support, parenting classes, and SGBV counseling for both survivors and perpetrators, fostering healthier relationships.
High Commissioner of Canada, H.E. Lilian Chatterjee, praised the ongoing partnerships, stating, “We are pleased to continue our partnerships with Lifeline Ministries Inc. and Kibe’Kuati Inc. whose 2023 projects exemplified innovative and community-based approaches to address sexual and gender-based violence. These organizations are providing critical support to their communities, to Dominica’s social services sector and to the country at-large. We applaud their steadfast commitment to end SGBV and build a safer Dominica.”
Dominica Olympic Committee
In a new partnership, Canada is providing CAN$35,000 to the Dominica Olympic Committee for the ‘Rising Tides: Essential Skills for Empowering Coastal Communities’ project. This initiative targets marginalized groups, offering aquatic safety training and marine education to promote environmental stewardship and reduce water-related accidents in Soufriere and surrounding areas.
High Commissioner Chatterjee remarked, “This is our first CFLI partnership with the Dominica Olympic Committee. The youth-driven project advances several priority areas for Canada in the Eastern Caribbean, including advancing the empowerment of women and girls and prioritizing diversity and inclusion in taking climate action. We eagerly look forward to the positive impact this project will have on Dominica’s coastal communities.”
The CFLI supports small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries. This year, the High Commission of Canada distributed CAN$300,000 among organizations in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, including the Grenada Community Development Agency and the Do-Nation Foundation Inc. in Saint Lucia, among others.
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