LONGDENVILLE – A transformative initiative bridging migrant and host communities celebrated its third graduation cohort on December 13 at the Longdenville Basketball Court. The Flourish: Empowering Resilience and Integration programme, funded by Republic Bank’s Power to Make a Difference initiative, successfully trained 40 participants in vocational skills and economic integration.
Organized by Women Owned Media and Education Network (WOMEN) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and corporate partners including Blue Waters, Kiss Baking Company, SMJaleel, Xtrafoods Cares, Domino’s Pizza, and Use My Services, the program provided hands-on training in three key disciplines: sewing, carpentry, and hydroponics. These technical skills were complemented by essential workshops in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and community integration strategies.
WOMEN founder Lucia Cabrera-Jones emphasized the program’s core mission: “Flourish is designed to integrate migrants into local society with the support of host communities, proving that when international, corporate, financial institutions, communities, and individuals come together with shared purpose, transformation happens.”
Republic Bank’s senior manager Davi Samaroo-Singh highlighted the institutional commitment to sustainable community development: “Partnerships like this matter because they unite institutions that believe in empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity for all. Through our Power to Make a Difference programme, we are committed to creating pathways for women, youth, and vulnerable groups to achieve independence, economic stability, and personal growth.”
The graduation ceremony attracted significant community leadership presence, demonstrating strong local endorsement for initiatives that foster social cohesion and inclusive economic development. Program organizers noted that the comprehensive curriculum was specifically designed to equip participants not merely with income-generating skills, but with the holistic tools necessary to sustainably manage, grow, and integrate their livelihoods within their communities.