Our Views, Our Voices Barbados Training Workshop, November 28th – 29th, 2019. Our Views, Our Voices is an initiative of the NCD Alliance and people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that seeks to meaningfully involve people living with NCDs in the NCD response and enable individuals to share their views to take action and drive change.
The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) hosted the first of two Caribbean based Our Views, Our Voices peer training workshops on November 28th – 29th, 2019 at the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre in Barbados. The Barbados Training Workshop was led by Caribbean based Our Views, Our Voices Peer Trainers Diana Gittens and Jenna Thompson – Healthy Caribbean Coalition Advocacy Officer.
Our Views, Our Voices Peer Trainers Diana Gittens (Left) and Jenna Thompson (Right) closing out Day 2 of training Photo: S.Cadogan.
Fourteen (14) persons, who live with an NCD or are caregivers to persons living with an NCD, were equipped with skills to become effective spokespersons, able to share their lived experiences to build a powerful narrative on NCDs and amplify the advocacy agenda of people living with NCDs through meaningful involvement in health initiatives and policy development. The HCC is excited to see our freshly trained, inspirational and energetic NCD advocates lend their voices to the fight against NCDs!
Diana Gittens leading advocates through a workshop activity
This is an excellent initiative and offering from the NCD Alliance, partnering with our local Alliances. It is a wonderful opportunity to find ways to bring real stories, real lives and real hope to People Living with NCDs and to share advocacy tools so that Our Voices are heard by policy leaders around the region.
Tara Lisa Persaud, HCC Our Views Our Voices Technical Advisor
Photos: Advocates engaged in fun activities that aimed to equip them with the skills to use their lived experiences, stories and communication skills to call for change.
Find out more information on the Healthy Caribbean Coalition Our Views, Our Voices Training Programme here.
This work is supported by the NCD Alliance as part of its partnership with Access Accelerated to support work related to the Our Views, Our Voices initiative, find out more about the NCD Alliance Programme here.