On Sunday January 17, 2021, the Caritas Dominica Youth Emergency Action Committees launched and commissioned its Roseau and Environs Team during a ceremony that took place at the Roseau Cathedral Chapel. Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, the Chairperson of Caritas Dominica officiated at the celebration and explained the mission of Caritas:
“Caritas is the Humanitarian arm of the Catholic Church reaching out to the poor, vulnerable and excluded, regardless of race, gender or religion, to build a world based on justice and fraternal love. Caritas is Latin for love and is guided by the core values and key principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Caritas Dominica is affiliated to Caritas Internationalis, the world’s largest Catholic development and emergency relief agency.”
Caritas Antilles with support from the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) is implementing the Youth Emergency Action Committees (YEAC) project in communities in Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Jamaica. Youth Emergency Action Committees are organized community youth groups that will be trained and prepared to be first respondents within the community in case of natural or manmade disasters. They are volunteers working in emergency preparedness and response. It is Youth-Led Community Action for increased Disaster Resilience. During the weeks post Hurricane Maria, members of the YEAC in St. Lucia and Grenada were deployed to Dominica to assist with the relief and emergency response project of Caritas Antilles.
The first YEAC Team in Dominica was launched in June 2019 in the community of Pt. Michel. The Roseau and Environs Team is open to youth and young adults age 16-35 from Loubiere to Canefield. Recruitment is ongoing for both teams. Some of the training YEAC members receive include First Aid & CPR, Fire Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Response, Light Search and Rescue, Family Disaster Plans Leadership and Life Skills. YEAC members will also be engaged in mitigation activities, community outreach and sensitization. Young people interested in joining YEAC Dominica are encouraged to visit the website for more information and to complete an application form: http://yeacdominica.org
