Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition

30/10/2026

Our Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Anthony Gordon, and Programme Manager – OECS, Dr. Nick Welch, are currently in Saint Lucia engaging with key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health through a series of strategic discussions and capacity-building sessions.

The engagement provides an opportunity to review the country's overall programmatic and financial performance under the CVC implemented OECS project, discuss high-level priorities, address implementation challenges and identify critical next steps to strengthen project delivery.

Through continued collaboration, technical support and shared learning, CVC remains committed to strengthening partnerships, improving programme effectiveness and ensuring meaningful, sustainable results for the communities we serve.

29/10/2026

For many young Jamaicans, starting a business represents much more than an opportunity to earn an income. It’s a chance to regain confidence, build independence and take control of their future. That transformation was on display when two senior representatives of Alinea International visited three small businesses established by young entrepreneurs supported through the Strengthening Access, Inclusion and Leadership for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SAIL-SRHR) project.

Sarah Schattmann, Project Director, and Tanya Salewski, Vice President, Programme Delivery, visited a poultry farm, a deli and restaurant, and a hairdressing salon to see firsthand how the project's Social Enterprise and Business (SEB) initiative has helped young people turn their ambitions into viable enterprises.

Read more here

For many young Jamaicans, starting a business represents much more than an opportunity to earn an income. It’s a chance to regain confidence, build independence and take control of their future. That transformation was on display when two senior representatives of Alinea International visited thre...

27/10/2026

From a poultry farm to a deli and restaurant and a beauty salon, young entrepreneurs supported through the SAIL-SRHR Project are proving that with the right opportunities, determination and support, big dreams can become reality!

Representatives from Alinea International and CVC recently visited three beneficiaries of the project's Social Enterprise and Business (SEB) initiative to see firsthand how young Jamaicans are turning their entrepreneurial ambitions into growing businesses.

Through small grants, entrepreneurship training and mentorship, these young business owners have gained more than financial support. They've developed practical skills, greater independence and the confidence to plan for a brighter future.

As the SAIL-SRHR project comes to a close, we're celebrating the ambition and achievements of these inspiring young entrepreneurs and the possibilities that lie ahead!

The SAIL-SRHR Project was funded by the Government of Canada and implemented through Alinea International in partnership with CVC and the Jamaica Family Planning Association.

Trade Commissioner Service - Global Affairs Canada

20/10/2026

For young people like Iyoka Blair and Adrian Fuller, support through the SAIL-SRHR Project has opened doors to new opportunities, financial independence and brighter futures.

In Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, Iyoka has transformed her dream into reality with Taino’s Deli and Juice Bar, creating a source of income to support herself and her son.

Meanwhile, in Clarendon, sixth-form student Adrian is building a poultry-rearing business with hopes of expanding his operations and earning enough to help finance his college education.

Their stories are part of a wider initiative that supported nine youth-led social enterprises across Jamaica, providing resources, training and opportunities for young people to take greater control of their economic futures.

Because empowering young people isn't just about giving them opportunities today. It's about helping them build the futures they deserve.

Read more here:

Before receiving support through the SAIL-SRHR Project, Iyoka Blair was unemployed and raising her son while carrying a dream of starting a business. Today, she owns Taino’s Deli and Juice Bar in Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, earning an income, supporting her child and building a business she ho...

13/10/2026

Taking Caribbean experiences and lessons to the global stage!

How do we ensure that healthcare workers can continue providing compassionate, quality HIV care when they are also dealing with the trauma of a natural disaster?

CVC's Strategic Information Lead, Dr. Sharlene Jarrett, brought this important conversation to the Fast Track Cities Conference in Berlin, Germany, where she presented on “Adapting a Trauma-Informed Care Training to Support HIV Health Workers and Communities in the Aftermath of a Disaster – The Jamaican Experience.”

Drawing on Jamaica's experience following Hurricane Melissa, the presentation highlighted how a training programme originally designed to strengthen trauma-informed HIV care was adapted to address the psychological and emotional needs of healthcare and outreach workers affected by the disaster.

The initiative supported 250 healthcare workers, integrating trauma-informed care, psychological first aid and practical approaches to managing disaster-related stress, while recognising the heightened vulnerabilities faced by people living with HIV and other key populations during emergencies.

Through this international engagement, CVC continues to contribute Caribbean perspectives and practical lessons to global discussions on HIV, healthcare resilience and disaster preparedness.

12/10/2026

From empowering young entrepreneurs and amplifying youth voices through research to training peer educators and challenging harmful gender norms, the Strengthening Access, Inclusion and Leadership for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SAIL-SRHR) Project has helped create opportunities, build confidence and equip young people to become agents of change in their communities.

These achievements took centre stage at the project's recent Close-Out Ceremony, where participants, implementing partners, government officials and other stakeholders came together to celebrate the lives touched, lessons learned and progress made in advancing s*xual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among young people in Jamaica.

The celebration was attended by the High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica Mark Berman and State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Krystal Lee, reflecting the importance of partnerships in advancing the health, rights and well-being of young people.

But beyond the achievements and numbers are the stories that matter most: young people who have discovered their voices, developed new skills, challenged long-held beliefs and gained the confidence to shape their own futures.

As we celebrate the successful close of the SAIL-SRHR project, we also celebrate a legacy that will continue through the young people, communities and institutions strengthened by the project.

Thank you to our partners, supporters and, most importantly, the young people who made this journey possible.

The SAIL-SRHR project was implemented by CVC and the Jamaica Family Planning Association with support from Alinea International and was funded by Global Affairs Canada.

06/10/2026

What stories shape the future of our movements?

The Caribbean Comms & Narrative Lab is an 8-week online space where we’ll unpack opposition narratives, strengthen strategic communications skills, and co-create powerful, rights-affirming narratives for the Caribbean. ✊🏽

📅 October 21 – December 9
💸 FREE
💻 Online | Zoom
🌎 English speakers
⏰ Wednesdays, 5–7 PM AST
👥 20 participants

Applications are now open and close October 11.

🔗 Read the full call and find out how to apply here: https://thecaribbeanobservatory.org/post/25

24/09/2026

Join the conversation!

United to End AIDS: Latin American and Caribbean Perspectives for the Future of UNAIDS

🗓️ Sep 25 | 🕘 11:00 AM (GMT-4)

Join IPPF ACRO, UNAIDS, and the Caribbean Observatory on SRHR for a conversation bringing Latin American and Caribbean perspectives to the table and exploring what comes next in the global AIDS response.

🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zMSL35AATkaoSwFJO19E5A

23/09/2026

CVC has placed its technical expertise at the centre of efforts to strengthen HIV surveillance and the use of data to inform the HIV response in Trinidad and Tobago.

Our Strategic Information Lead, Dr. Sharlene Jarrett, and Strategic Information Coordinator, Janeil Williams, are providing technical support to the Ministry of Health’s four-day HIV Surveillance Capacity Building Training in Port of Spain, alongside technical expertise from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The training brings together healthcare professionals and NGO partners involved in HIV case detection, reporting, data management and programme monitoring. It is focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to collect, manage and use HIV surveillance data to guide public health action, improve programmes and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.

22/09/2026

HIV has changed. But have our conversations about it changed too?

Behind every HIV diagnosis is a person, a family and a community navigating realities that go far beyond treatment. And while significant progress has been made in the HIV response, stigma, discrimination and barriers to essential services continue to affect children, young people and families.

Our Executive Director Ivan Cruickshank recently joined the Kiwanis Club of Kingston for an important conversation, “Beyond the Diagnosis: HIV’s Changing Impact on Children, Youth and Families.”

In his presentation, Mr. Cruickshank explored the progress made, the challenges that remain, and the work still needed to build healthier and more inclusive communities.

Ending HIV is about more than prevention and treatment. It also requires creating environments where everyone can access the information, care and support they need without fear, judgement or discrimination.

Watch the presentation and join the conversation.