Following the observance of International Day of the Girl Child, Associated Brands Industries Limited (ABIL)—Sunshine Snacks, Sunshine Cereals, Charles Chocolates, Devon Biscuits, and Universal Cereals—presented a $88,566 cheque to the Rape Crisis Society to facilitate the employment of much-needed counsellors to help reduce the backlog of survivors waiting to speak to a therapist.
The cheque was handed over to Marion Taylor, President of Rape Crisis Society T&T by Kathryn Inniss, Marketing Manager Sunshine Snacks and Gregory Lok Jack, Director of ABIL on October 21.
Now on the third leg of the OSHUN—Love Over Everything campaign, the musical ensemble, Freetown Collective features DJ Private Ryan with a soca version of the song, which was released on October 11—the International Day of the Girl Child to motivate men and boys to reform behaviours that lead to violence. The video production was supported by ABIL.
In addition to raising funds for the Rape Crisis Society, Freetown Collective’s lead vocalist, Muhammad Muwakil, said they have also partnered with renowned female filmmakers from the Caribbean to produce short films aimed at stimulating conversations while contributing to a deep cultural change in T&T and the Caribbean that leads to a reduction of gender-based violence.
The International Day of the Girl, observed on October 11, aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
Muwakil said: “By introducing the message and meaning behind Love Over Everything, we hope to make a profound and practical impact in the fight against gender-based violence.”
The first short film was released on Mother’s Day 2021 (May 9); the second short film was released on Father’s Day (June 20); the third on International Day of the Girl (October 11); and the final film will be released on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25).
