Karen de Souza picks up prestigious Caribbean award

May 13, 2014 News

Activist, Karen de Souza, over the weekend received a prestigious regional award, the second in almost two years.
The 56-year-old founder of Red Thread was among three Caribbean nationals selected for the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence. She was honoured for her public and civic contributions.
The award was presented during a special function at UTC Theatre 1, National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain on Saturday evening, according to the Trinidad Guardian yesterday.

Recipients of the 2014 Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards For Excellence. From left: Professor Liam Teague, Karen de Souza and Dr Richard Robertson.

Also honoured in the category of Arts and Letters, was Trinidadian pan musician, Professor Liam Teague, with Dr. Richard Robertson of St Vincent and the Grenadines recognized for his contributions to the field of Science and Technology.
De Souza is a women’s and children’s rights activist from Guyana. Her role in Red Thread has seen her pushing for improved service and support, education, and advocacy for victims of rape and domestic and other forms of violence and for the lowest-waged sectors of women.
De Souza and Red Thread have also been doing research and contributing to the drafting of laws and training for judicial officers to support the protection of women and children and victims of human trafficking.
Since starting Red Thread in 1986, de Souza has worked tirelessly for the organisation in an entirely voluntary capacity. The organization has been providing services like face-to-face counselling in a drop-in centre for women and children and survivors of rape and abuse, and enabled the rescue of victims of domestic violence.
The organization has also participated in court proceedings, legislative initiatives and international conferences on women’s and children’s welfare.
She has also been described as a pioneer in public education, having scripted and produced videos and drama on domestic violence and sexual abuse.
The award would come almost two years after the activist was also nominated by the US Embassy in Guyana for the “International Women of Courage Award”.
The awards were for women who have shown exceptional bravery and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk. Their stories represent just a few of the emerging leaders found in every corner of the world, the US Embassy had explained.
The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) is the English-speaking Caribbean’s leading recognition programme in Arts, Sciences, and Public and Civic Work.
The Ansa McAl Foundation launched this awards programme in October 2005.
The goal of the awards is to recognise significant Caribbean achievement.
Dr. Robertson, director of UWI’s Seismic Research Centre at St Augustine, is a geologist and vulcanologist whose work has been ground-breaking in the study of volcanoes and the geology of the region.
A world expert, he is active in public education on the issue and has published academic books, and numerous refereed articles and book chapters.
Michael Mansoor, chairman of the awards’ Eminent Persons Panel (EPP) selection committee, disclosed that nominees were screened and selected from five territories— Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
A country nomination committee selects one nominee in each of the categories and presents the credentials to a regional panel of eminent people.
De Souza has also been honoured by Kaieteur News for being a ‘Special Person’ for her work in helping others.

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