Trinidadian awarded by the Queen for service during COVID-19 pandemic

Trinidadian volunteer Giselle Mendez was given the Commonwealth Points of Light award from the Queen for her service during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the British High Commission.
Mendez represented Trinidad and Tobago as the 148th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service encouraging community volunteering.
In a statement issued July 17, 2020, UK High Commissioner Tim Stew said Mendez' volunteer work during the challenging COVID-19 period is inspiring:
'Giselle Mendez has shown us the value of coming together to connect, even virtually, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.'
'I am inspired by her work to bring about meaningful change in various communities and to positively influence young people in this country. And, I’m delighted that Giselle will join three others from Trinidad and Tobago who have received this award from Her Majesty the Queen.
'This also makes Giselle the 148th person in the Commonwealth to receive this international award since 2018.'
'I wish her continued strength to carry on this good work. And I hope this award will further inspire young people to act, however they can, to drive positive change in their communities.'
Mendez, founder of the ‘Volunteer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago’ (VCTT) in 2012, has worked to connect people and encourage collaborations with volunteers for sustained and structured interventions in various sectors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the VCTT team launched their ‘virtual volunteering’ initiative to promote mindfulness and safe volunteering opportunities such as telephone befriending, child tutoring, letter writing to isolated people or donating to an NGO.
Mendez also leads over 130 mentors that will provide guidance and support to young people beyond the pandemic through their e-mentoring programmes, ‘Me to We’ and ‘Grown in East Port of Spain’.
Mendez said the VCTT aims to help transform communities for the better.
'Volunteer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago’ (VCTT) is a volunteer matching platform which connects people to high impact custom built interventions which support the Sustainable Development Goals.'
'Our current interventions include the ‘Me to We E-Mentorship’ programme supported by Prince's Trust International, the ‘Grown in East Port of Spain home & community garden’ initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and the development of a regional network for Volunteerism supported by ‘Ruach Tova’ - Good Deeds Day.'
'At VCTT we believe in the transformational power of people, and our family of volunteers is honoured for this recognition of our 8 years of service as we curate an all-inclusive space for citizens to be activated and meaningfully engaged in pioneering viable solutions, in support of our ‘Vision of A Volunteer In Every Home’.'
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen - as Head of the Commonwealth - thanked inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they have made in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week.
The High Commission said: 'By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.'
The High Commission said voluntary service is high on the agenda for improving Commonwealth nations, which is why the Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.  Source: The Loop, July 30, 2020