THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A SPECIAL OUTREACH BY THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF CARING FOR OTHERS...
The Government of Saint Lucia, through the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons, will for the first time host the International Poverty Forum from March 18 to 20, 2027.
The announcement followed a special outreach by Dr. Eslene Richmond-Shockley, Founder and CEO of Caring for Others, who marked her 69th birthday by a handover of food and care packages to clients of the Department of Equity.
Held on July 9, the occasion brought together Ministry stakeholders and representatives of Caring for Others as a gesture of solidarity with those most in need, while also signalling the start of a wider partnership focused on coordinated social protection and poverty response.
Dr. Shockley’s nearly three decades of humanitarian work reflects a lifelong commitment to service, shaped by her own experience and values of responsibility and compassion.
“In the words of the great Nelson Mandela, poverty is a crime of humanity. Today, so many people around this world commit a crime by not taking care of the least of these. I have been called to do this work. Today, God has blessed me that I'm here with you in Saint Lucia and I'm grateful.
My grandmother told me as we were growing up so poor — she said to me, ‘Lady of the Moon, one day you're going to be better. And when things get better, remember to look back and pick up those people behind you.’” — Dr. Eslene Richmond-Shockley, Founder and CEO of Caring for Others
Caring For Others is a human services nonprofit organization working internationally to support individuals and families affected by poverty through feeding, clothing, education and housing-related assistance. The International Poverty Forum, operating as a programme of Caring For Others, advances the mission of “uniting leaders and communities in eradicating the disease of poverty” by connecting dialogue with action and focusing on basic needs, opportunity and dignity.
For the Department of Equity, this partnership reflects a broader mandate to support vulnerable persons not only through direct assistance, but through relationships that reduce hardship, strengthen resilience and create pathways to opportunity.
Speaking at the donation ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Claudius Preville, Ambassador-at-Large described the partnership as part of the Government’s wider people-centred development agenda, noting that policies and international engagements should have practical relevance in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“...At the end of the day, one of the most important things is: how do we impact the lives of ordinary people — ordinary citizens? Because sometimes we do those complicated trade agreements, and we do not have something practical and workable for the people of our countries. I have to say that I've been doing this for the last 20 years, and I can tell you: not all the agreements actually work for us in the way our negotiators actually intend.
So, when this initiative was raised and Dr. Shockley also offered us to see — I was invited to Atlanta to see firsthand the type of facility that she has, the setup, the warehousing, the staff. You know, I saw videos of the different interventions done over the last 10 years in the forums and also in general. More than twenty eight years, she has dedicated her life working to help
people eradicate poverty.” — His Excellency Dr. Claudius Preville, Ambassador-at-Large for Trade, Investment and Multilateral Issues
The 2027 International Poverty Forum is expected to move the conversation around social protection beyond relief and distribution, bringing together governments and change-makers to examine practical strategies that help prevent persons and families from falling deeper into poverty, while improving support for those already affected.
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