When lockdown measures to combat the pandemic were announced, many families in Trinidad and Tobago found themselves in need. Faced with a reduction in income, some of these families knew they would find compassion from Kareem Marcelle..
This is not surprising. Kareem, a UWI law student, is well-known for his community advocacy. He has served as Public Relations Officer of the Beetham Gardens Village Council and, in that role, organised inter-community sports and cultural competitions. As Youth and Education Officer of the Beetham Estate Youth Outreach Network Development, he has helped run after-school programmes. In recognition of his community outreach, UWI presented him in 2017 with the Makandal Daaga Scholarship in Law, an award for students with a strong record of community service or activism.
Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, notes that “he exemplifies the raison d’être of this scholarship, and the life and work of Makandal Daaga.”
Even before he received the first calls, Kareem felt moved to take action. He knew there were struggling families in his community. Then requests began arriving from further afield.
“I have had a single mother tell me that she has nothing for her children to eat,” says Kareem. “She has four children, and she sells pholouries, pies, and so on to make ends meet... within a week or so everything was literally used up in the house,” he says. The woman was in Sangre Grande, and as news spread, he found himself fielding calls from over a hundred people seeking assistance.
He believes this is an indication of the difficult living circumstances of many people in Trinidad and Tobago. “You realise how hard people have it in this country, regardless of the community they come from”. For those working for minimum wage, the lockdown has been challenging since losing weeks of work can quickly put a family in crisis. “Our social fabric needs significant work.” Although the State has put systems in place to assist, families can potentially spend a few weeks struggling with almost no income before these resources arrive. Moved, he purchased supplies to distribute – oil, sugar, rice, flour, peas, macaroni, cereal, milk, and corned beef.
He noted though that people with low literacy were having difficulties filling in the application forms for Government grants and was pleased when the forms were shortened. Still, many of the applicants may not be able to easily access the references or the technology necessary to prepare the applications. So, once again, he dipped into his savings to purchase a printer, ink and paper, and he offers assistance in getting the forms filled in and submitted.
“Now it’s a matter of getting it to those persons. I co-ordinate with my Councillor (Akil Audain) for this area (electoral district Beetham/Picton) who has been signing the recommendation forms and reach out to police officers who I know will assist.”
His efforts have become almost like a job. Normally, he would be preparing for his exams, staying away from social media and events. Now he is up early, driving all over the country on his missions and returning home in the evening to study and catch a few hours of sleep.
His family and a few friends help him pack the items for delivery though not many have yet come forward to assist him. He understands that many are afraid of endangering their health travelling around during a pandemic. “I think that more organisations and individuals would have reached out were it not for the restrictions.” He takes as many precautions as he can to stay safe.
In his final year and within his final month of finishing his law degree, Kareem sees himself as an ambassador of the Makandal Daaga scholarship. He has maintained his GPA and still finds time to give back. It is his hope that others will join him.
“I encourage other students, members of staff, lecturers, anyone, to get on board. Try to be each other’s keeper and reach out to somebody in need.” People need to know that “we are here with you and that we are all in this together”.
If anyone wants to help Kareem in his efforts, they can message him on social media, call 371-9683 or e-mail kareemmarcelle17@gmail.com
