For many years, The Mothers' Union of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago had the desire to do something in a very tangible way, not as individuals, branches or regions, but at diocesan level, to fulfil the fourth and fifth objectives of their organisation, namely: "To provide conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children" and "to help those whose family life has met with adversity."
Thus, this dream, The Mothers' Union Children's Home, to provide a home to help temporarily displaced children, evolved as far back as 1985 when the group's Social Action Committee, chaired by Mariko Abdulah, wife of then Bishop Clive Abdulah, assisted branches in arranging seminars on various topics including "Abuse of Women, Rape, Child Abuse, and Substance Abuse."
During discussions, when the innumerable problems faced by women n this country came forcefully home to the members of the M.U., the rank and file felt a half-way house for women with problems was the way to go. But then an expert in the field of Social Services was invited to speak to the M.U. Council about that need, and enlightened the group about the number of children who had been abandoned at hospital and elsewhere; children with parents on drugs and alcohol who are abused or left to fend for themselves; children who have to be removed from their homes because of incest, sexual or physical abuse; children whose mothers had to be hospitalised and had no one with whom to leave them; children whose parents had been sent off to prison; and numerous other cases. The social worker saw a greater need for a home to help temporarily displaced children.
Moved to tears by these startling facts, the M.U. agreed, and started looking to purchase either a building or a piece of land on which to erect a suitable building, which proved difficult to find in the north. One day, three M.U. stalwarts, Joan Jones, Esme Romeo and Esla Crawford (the current president of the M.U.), were chatting with their chaplain, Dean Knolly Clarke, at that time rector of St Paul's in San Fernando, who asked why was it necessary for the home to be in the north, and generously offered a spot at Pouchet Street in San Fernando, subject to Vestry approval, where the building is being erected to-day.
The Mothers' Union got voluntary help with surveying, Town and Country, architectural expertise, and several other matters, but there was no money to physically start building.
In June 1992 at the celebration of its 71st anniversary, then president, Mavis Carrington, challenged each M.U. member "to present an offering of $100.00 at our in-Gathering on Founder's Day at St Paul's on June 13, 1993."
"We fell short of the target" says Carrington, but where there was a will there was a way, and Bishop Rawle Douglin turned the sod on May 18, 1994.
"We feel that in letting the public know what we are doing, letting them see that we mean business, not for ourselves but for the children of our nation, for better family life, they would come to our assistance" said Crawford at the sod-turning ceremony.
To date, there has not been any overwhelming response from corporate or private citizens, but after many postponements, erection of the two- storey building eventually got underway last November, and should be completed, hopefully, says Carrington, "by the end of April or middle May, 2000."
The M.U. plans to access youngsters in need of a temporary home through the Social Services Division. And have clearly explained that it is a home where children will be housed, not indefinitely, not to a specific age, but one where the child would be cared for, for a few months at the most, by which time the child would be returned hopefully to the bosom of a loving family or sent to an appropriate place of substitute.
Funds are needed to complete the building, staff the Home, for appliances, furniture, linen, and lots of other equipment needed to deal efficiently with the fifteen children to be housed at any given time.
And to this end, the Friends of the Mothers' Union, chaired by Gwyneth Harford, have organised a post-Valentine's Day Coffee Morning on Wednesday February 16 at the Prince of Wales Lodge, Alexandra Street, St Clair, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets costing just $20.00 are available from the All Saints Church Office, telephone 627-7004.