Fifty-one years ago, Shaffiha Faye, came from Pennsylvania in the United States of America on a visit to her relatives who resided in Trinidad & Tobago.
Faye, a cousin of Anthony Sabga, head of the Ansa Mc Al corporation, was first a missionary and later in life became a Justice of the Peace.
In conversation with Sabga's 21 year old wife, Minerva, and her 18 year old sister, Venus, both newlyweds, each with a very young child, Faye said to these young housewives "you are going to lose your culture if you do not do something about it." And advised them to get a group together and do something to keep their culture, "otherwise you will lose your language too. Think about keeping the women together and you will be able to meet socially while doing charitable work too and reach out to help those who need you among yourselves and others as well."
During the very first conversation, Faye handed them what she thought should be their motto, which remains to this day and is said at the start of every meeting of the Syrian Lebanese Women's Association of Trinidad and Tobago: "A place where kindly thoughts are cherished. Where high ideals are fed and nourished. Where charity is held to be a sacred duty. Where peace and harmony abound and members meet on common ground."
Last Monday, the Association which now has a membership of about 300 women, came together as they do annually to celebrate Mother's Day at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel.
President, Linda Hadeed, took members and their guests back to the start of the club, then called the "Mediterranean Star", in August 1950 by a group of 15 young women at her mother, Minerva Sabga's home. "My mother was appointed president and has since served six times."
The club started, basically social, with the women getting together and doing small things, such as, a coffee morning with sandwiches and cookies. In the fifties, donations to those in need ranged between $25 to $100 which usually represented proceeds from a luncheon or other function. The name was changed to the Syrian Lebanese Women's Charitable Organisation. And Linda explained: "The name has changed as the definition of the club changes, we wanted at this time to be known as a charitable organisation."
It was in the sixties that the charitable work for which they are well known to-day, really got underway. The women started to feel surer about themselves as Trinidadians and were becoming a little more westernised; and the children of the women started to become members of the club. The women of the organisation were becoming well known for their fund raising skills. They were donating larger sums to charity, with the result that they were beginning to be invited to take part in national and international functions and to interact with other service organisations by helping with their fund raising activities.
The seventies were a time of apprehension and fear with the black power unrest, but the Syrian Lebanese Women's work went on as they firmly decided to show people that they were making a contribution too, and not just the men in the city.
Linda recalls that Lady Thelma Hochoy, patroness of the mentally handicapped children asked for a donation of $30,000. "It took two years to raise but on February 15, 1972, our minutes read : At a delightful coffee morning at the Hilton Hotel, our president Katrine Aboud made the presentation to Lady Hochoy - 66 members were present."
During the boom years of the 80's, the club's membership stood at 185, but there was a lack of interest. Younger ideas were introduced through the daughters of the original members and the name was again changed to what it still is to-day. "We felt that we were no longer just a charitable organisation, and this was a better name to reflect the three arms of the organisation- social, cultural and charitable- giving each equal importance" says Linda.
In 1987, thirty-five years after she had started the Mediterranean Star in this country, Shaffiha Faye passed way at age eighty-seven. But her legacy to this country remained strong and vibrant, as can be seen from the fact that in 1985, $109,677.00 raised by the women was given to various charities, compared to the $25 donations of earlier years.
There were large cultural extravaganzas and other functions. The work of the Syrian/Lebanese women was being more widely accepted and in the late 80's it became commonplace for them to send a daughter abroad, the results of which are now evident as they return home and bring new and fresh ideas to the club. Although it is to be noted that for a while in the 90's the older women were back at the helm.
Women like Minerva and Venus Sabga and May Salloum have served as president on several occasions. Jean Chamely has been the San Fernando representative since 1969. Jessmin Moses started a club in Barbados which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1999, and was represented at last Monday's luncheon.
Hence the reason that instead of selecting the normal Mother of the Year for 2000, the club paid tribute to several of these women who had made forty-year contributions as mothers of the Association, with special attention to the two founder members. "They were all honoured for the part they played in the fifty years of the club. They have really been an integral part of the club, each in different ways" said Hadeed, who herself has been president three times.
An annual event in this club is the distribution of hampers at Christmas, which they source and pack themselves at the Sabga home on Wainwright Street. Last December 1,100 large hampers plue 130 minis totalling $140,000 were distributed. compared to 25 hampers costing $1,080 in 1980.
What does Hadeed see for the group's future? She is sure "there is a future. We would like to see our daughters being a part of the future of this club. Although they may not take active roles at this time, we know that some of our young people are very efficient and so we do not have to fear."
In the meantime, they prepare for their golden anniversary celebration on July 29- an Arabic Night dinner and cultural show. A most deserving celebration for these women who at the start swept the floors and washed the plates themselves after their charity functions, and built this organisation to its present stature as they strive to maintain Arab customs within the community. "There is a sad loss of the language by many, but we use the club to preserve and teach other facets of middle eastern culture, such as, food, dance, music and costume" says Linda Hadeed.