FOUR women who have inspired others were honoured on Tuesday evening at the International Women’s Forum (IWFTT) Awards gala held in a Hyatt Regency ballroom packed with women of all walks of life.
They were:
—Akosua Dardaine-Edwards, who received the Inspirational Emerging Leader Award.
She is the founder of NiNa Young Women’s Leadership programme, which has been an influence in the lives of hundreds of young women and girls in the country.
PRESENTATION: Prof Judith Gobin Araujo, right, receives the Inspirational Advocate Award from Anna-Maria Garcia-Brooks, the Inspirational Women Awards Committee chair, during Tuesday’s presentations at the Hyatt Regency.
—Photos: ISHMAEL SALANDY
—Dr Judith Gobin Araujo, who received the Inspirational Advocate Award.
Gobin Araujo is the first female head of Life Sciences Department at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St Augustine.
She and her team discovered a deep-sea tubeworm at a depth of 4,000 metres, off the north-east coast of Trinidad now called “Lamellibrachia judigobini”, which was named in her honour.
—Deborah de Rosia was awarded the Inspirational Champion of Women honour. She founded the Eternal Light Community Vocational School and other facilities which provide care and shelter to battered women and their children, abandoned children and the elderly.
In collaboration with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain, she leads a team of persons to care for pregnant teenagers and a skills-training centre in Sea Lots to combat crime through training and employment.
—Rhonda Maingot received the Inspirational Legacy Award.
She has dedicated almost 50 years to serving the needy in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Her outreach includes shelters, rehabilitation centres for substance users, and programmes for the homeless, terminally ill, and abused. She is also the founder of the Trinity Communications Television Network.
During her acceptance speech, Dardaine-Edwards said: “My grandmother Sheila, whom we called Sheels, was my first example of an inspirational woman. Don’t let anybody say you are too quiet. Have you seen the sun rise? Your responsibility is to show up constantly and shine. This is for you, Sheels.”
Accepting her award, Gobin said: “I am humbled and honoured. As academics, we mentor our students. If I have gotten this award, it means I have done this. I thank my husband and sons for their tolerance. I extend congratulations to all who received awards.”
De Rosia, fondly known as “Sister Debby”, said her first inspiration came from God. “From my earliest years, my parents served others. We washed clothes for the poor. We creamed butter and sugar (so) those who did not have could have. If this award is for what I have done, I give God thanks and praise.”
And when she accepted her ward, Maingot said “Isn’t it great to be a woman?”
She added, “I thank God for this beautiful award. It would not have happened without some of you. I am being honoured with some of these beautiful women. I thank God and I ask for a special blessing on their lives.”
Also delivering addresses at the event were IWF Global president Carolyn Carter, IWFTT president Joanne Salazar and International Women Awards Committee chair Anna-Maria Garcia-Brooks.
The vote of thanks was delivered by past IWFTT president Sharon Christopher.