 |
[Feedback] |
|
Fostering Care and Appreciation in the Community
|
Fostering Care and Appreciation in the Community
|
|
Thursday, May 25, 2000 - As Saint Lucia joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Families’ Day last Monday, Ms. Eugenia Faustin, a single mother and owner of a foster care home in Soufriere was honoured for her long service towards her community. Officials of the Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations and the parliamentary representative for Soufriere, the Honourable Walter Francois gathered at the foster home on Thursday May 19, to pay tribute to Ms. Faustin. There was much to learn from the example of the forty eight year old individual who has been undertaking this voluntary task of sheltering less fortunate children for the past twenty-two years. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations Honourable Michael Gaspard said, "Doing this kind of voluntary work is very special. Not many people appreciate this kind of thing because all you hear now is selfishness and greed. What Ms. Faustin is doing is showing appreciation for life by just taking care of the little ones." Ms. Faustin was awarded a plaque and a bouquet of flowers but moreover she continues to receive the support of the ministry and other well-wishers so that the children’s fundamental needs are well taken care of. The foster care home presently houses sixteen children - from toddlers to teenagers - who have come from unfortunate situations of neglect and physical abuse. Even as Eugenia Faustin remembers her times of hardship especially when she lost her one bedroom wooden house due to raging river waters from Hurricane Hugo in 1988, she says that she will continue to love and nurture children in need of care and in need of a family. |
|
© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
