14
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2014
THE UWI HONORARY GRADUAND:
SUBESH RAMJATTAN
Among our eight honorees this year is
Subesh Ramjattan
, philanthropist and entrepreneur.
Mr Ramjattan has set up charitable organizations such as the Bridge of Hope, the Kernahan
Project, the Annapausis Community, the Family Life and Support Centre, and the Oasis
Institute, from which he was conferred with a Doctor of Humane Letters award in 2010. Mr
Ramjattan will be conferred with the D.Litt at the St. Augustine campus Graduation ceremony
for the Faculty of Medical Sciences in October 2014. He shared some thoughts on his good
works with editor,
Vaneisa Baksh
.
AHand of Hope
VB:
What is the greatest challenge you faced in
setting up The Bridge of Hope?
SR:
The Bridge of Hope was established with a faith-
based vision to be a model for other childcare
providers in Trinidad and Tobago. Debbie [his
wife] and I wanted to be change agents and raise
the standards for childcare socially, culturally, and
morally. We learned that there can be no positive
change in the social fabric of the community unless
those precipitating the change are also changed as
part of the process. The struggle during the early
years was learning to deal with abandoned and
disadvantaged children. One of the early personal
lessons gained from the struggle was that God did
not comfort us to be comfortable; but to comfort
others. It was always my desire to serve the less
fortunate in my home turf along the eastern
seaboard.
VB:
How can members of the public help with some
of the supporting institutions you oversee?
SR:
My life experience taught me that a vision is more
caught than taught, so we constantly challenged
others to buy into the vision. The effort was to
earn the trust of others and to model the lifestyle
we desired in others. We engaged partners and
stakeholders in assisting us to promote the ongoing
aspects of the Bridge of Hope. We believe that
transparency and accountability are important
factors in engaging people in the sustainable
development of a project.
Corporations and citizens may be involved
in support by volunteering their services and
ensuring a fair share contribution. They can also
support on an ongoing basis or share a one-time
gift or grant for special projects. There are many
persons with gifts and talents that must be given an
opportunity to share in community projects. We
encourage people to share their time as surrogate
grandparents for Bridge of Hope children, and also
bring their families to the home and interact with
the less fortunate children sharing birthdays and
special events.
VB: Which of your achievements
do you value most?
SR:
When I review my journey of the past forty years,
I value most my effort to improve the quality
of life of the needy: perhaps this is my most
valued contribution. First there was the House of
Marketing, then business ventures in USA, next
the return to Trinidad to develop the Anapausis
Community, then building the Bridge of Hope
for childcare, promoting Family Life Education,
initiating O.A.S.I.S. – Institute of Higher Learning
for graduate education, and constructing Olive’s
House for Eldercare. The effort to improve the
quality of life continues with writing books and
developing programmes dealing with current
women’s issues known as Global Women’s Inter-
reliant NETWORK, and the Anapausis Together/
Strong NETWORK, a strategy to organize men
for moral excellence and transparency in belief
and conduct. We have recently established Bridge
of Hope (Kutumb Jyothi) India to assist families
in the slum areas and children of construction
workers.
VB: What does this honorary D.Litt mean to you?
SR:
For The University of the West Indies to recognize
my faith-based efforts to serve my native country is
truly an honour. I firmly believe that charity begins
at home and that both my energy and resources
are best utilized in developing programmes,
projects, organizations, and books that serve the
needy and disadvantaged in Trinidad and Tobago.
I will humbly accept and wear this recognition as
a badge of honour and continue to remind others
that hard work can make a difference when you
bloom where you were planted. My goal is to
convince others that you don’t have to make
headlines to make a difference.
My life experience taught me
that a vision is more caught
than taught, so we constantly
challenged others to buy into
the vision. The effort was to
earn the trust of others and
to model the lifestyle we
desired in others.
