The Welfare Unit
About Us
The Welfare Unit is committed to a rights-based approach to development, and to ensuring that individuals have equal opportunities for meaningful social and economic development and free from discrimination.
The rights-based approach (implies) a conscious focus of policy and interventions on the needs of the poor, especially those living in extreme poverty, and on the protection of those who risk entering into poverty. The goal is to ultimately break the cycle on poverty by promoting human capital investments in education, health, and nutrition and skill development carefully targeted so that vulnerable children and their families are able to overcome the inter-generational cycle of poverty by depolying a social protection policy approach using protection, promotion, prevention and transformative methods.
Mission Statement
To promote rights-based human development and to facilitate the economic, social, cultural, political and spiritual advancement of individuals, households, communities and the society through poverty reduction, social protection and empowerment.
Vision Statement
The Ministry’s vision is based on the principles of social justice and equity, from which extreme poverty would have been eradicated and all forms of poverty significantly reduced, in which vulnerable citizens – including children, the elderly and people living with disabilities, are adequately protected – and in which there is no discrimination based on gender, culture, religion or sexual orientation.
It envisions a society where people can live peacefully and security, feeling safe from the threats of violent crime, gender-based and domestic violence, and disasters.
The Welfare Unit's Mandate
Mandate of the Welfare Services Unit
- Promote Equity and rights: is committed to a rights-based approach to development, and to ensuring that individuals have equal opportunities for meaningful social and economic development and free from discrimination.
- Pro-poor focus: a rights-based approach (implies) a conscious focus of policy and interventions on the needs of the poor, especially those living in extreme poverty, and on the protection of those who risk entering into poverty.
- Breaking the cycle of poverty: human capital investments in education, health, and nutrition and skill development carefully targeted so that vulnerable children and their families are able to overcome the inter-generational cycle of poverty.
- Social protection: protection, promotion, prevention and transformative; protect the most vulnerable in society, without sustaining or increasing their dependency whenever possible, and to address, to the maximum extent possible, the root causes of their vulnerability.
- Empowerment: development that is people-centred and that values individuals and communities more than financial wealth and material goods.
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Trinity Church Road, Castries, Saint Lucia
(758) 468 - 5103/5118
email: welfareslu@gmail.com
Services
A Pay Card is issued to Public Assistance Clients (PAP) for the first and second half of the year. At the time of payment, the Card must be presented by the recipient or someone authorized by him or her to receive the pay. The monthly payment of EC$215.00 to EC$465.00 is paid to PAP clients based on the family size.
All recipients of Public Assistance and Social Protection Services are eligible for burial assistance upon request. A relative of a deceased person may apply to the Division for burial assistance. They would be eligible to receive a Voucher for the funeral home of EC$1500.00.
The maximum benefit allowed under this programme is Two Hundred Dollars EC$200.00. All recipients of Public Assistance are eligible for this benefit. Persons who are deemed to be in need are also eligible for spectacle assistance. One visit every two years.
Assistance is provided to only fire victims whose houses were not insured. A contribution not exceeding the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) is given.
All persons who presently receive Public Assistance are eligible for Medical Exemption. Additionally, persons who are unable to pay at the time of the illness and who apply can benefit providing that the Welfare Officer investigates and identifies the need. Doctors visits at only public health facilities.
In 2014 the Government launched the Child Disability Grant (CDG) to support the needs of children with disabilities and their families, and as of July 2020 the Grant is being provided to 313 children. The CDG provides XCD 200 per child per month to a family and aims to contribute to the additional costs of care for the child.
Meet the Staff
Deputy Director
Welfare Unit
I am Kendall Elva a Social Transformation Officer. My work region is Vieux-Fort North and Vieux-Fort South. As a Social Transformation I work collaboratively with communities and other relevant stakeholders to address the developmental challenges confronting persons residing in my work region in a sustainable, meaningful and comprehensive manner.
Kendall Elva
Vieux Fort North and South
As STO it is my responsibility to work with communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local authorities to identify and effectively access resources and opportunities to help alleviate some of the societal issues affecting all sectors of the community.
David Moise
Gros-Islet
I am proud to serve the Dennery North/South Region. With the aforesaid, I facilitate the establishment/development of community groups and provide relevant support services to the same. Further, I promote community development by encouraging residents to participate in processes which ensure self-help and empowerment.
Darnally St Ange
Babonneau
Hi, I am Antonia Rene’-Marius, Social Transformation Officer for Castries South East and the Coordinator for the Community After School Programme (CASP). As a Social Transformation Officer, my job entails engaging and empowering the people of Castries South East Region by employing different methods and strategies to address issues and societal ills which plagues these communities.
Antonia Marius
Castries South East and (CASP) Coordinator
My name is Ivy Remy-St Helen and I am the Social Transformation Officer for the Community of Laborie. This is inclusive of the communities of Banse La Grace and Augier. Being a Social Transformation Officer to me means working assiduously to employ strategies and methods to engage and empower the residents of my community in an effort to transform their lives for the better.
Ivy Gaby St Helen
Laborie
My name is Shalina Mann, Social Transformation Officer for the Castries North and East Regions. As a Social Transformation Officer, I facilitate the establishment of Community Based and Non-Governmental Organizations and provide support to these groups necessary for their effectiveness. I also organize and promote community programmes and projects geared at responding to the needs of the respective communities within my regions. I firmly believe that change happens when individuals are given the support that they require to realize their potential and bring out their strengths in living fulfilling lives.
Shalina Mann
Castries North and Castries East
My name is Ordula Linor Social Transformation Officer for Micoud North & South from. While on this journey my goals are to serve the people of the district and to build linkage between various community groups.
Ordula Linor
Micoud North and South
Hi I am Fredora Justin-Alcindor your Social Transformation Officer for Castries Central and South. My work in serving you is guided by four key principles: Unconditional positive regard- because I believe the beggar is deserving of the same respect as the king. Integrity because I value the consistency of the unseen and the seen. Compassion- because I believe that every task should come from the heart. Humility- I recognize God's grace in all I am and do.
Fredora Justin-Alcindor
Castries Central & South
My name is Shema Glasgow and I am the Social Transformation Officer for Choiseul, the Cultural District and Soufriere, the Tourism Mecca Of St.Lucia. My duties as a Social Transformation Officer (STO) are highly rewarding and humbling in that it demands and allows for community engagement at a grassroots level.
Shema Glasgow
Choiseul
As the newest member of the unit, being a social transformation officer for a little over a month now has opened me up to a world of new experiences. A social transformation officer’s day is never set in stone and this is an inherent feature of the post where one will find that working on the grass roots level will expose the infinite needs of the community.
Jeff Desir
Dennery North and South
English
Haitian Creole