From Promises to Progress: SLF Turns 13!

The Silver Lining Foundation (SLF) was just an idea in 2012 – a dream fueled by the hope of creating a world where young people could exist without fear, shame and the weight of discrimination. Today, we proudly celebrate 13 years of advocacy, education, and empowerment, a journey dedicated to creating stronger families, fostering safer schools, and ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people can live freely and authentically. 

Promises to Progress

Thirteen years ago, we made a promise – a promise to be a voice for the voiceless, to stand in the gap for those who felt unseen, and to push for meaningful change. But promises alone are not enough. It is through action, determination, and the unwavering support of our community that we have transformed these promises into progress.

Each initiative and advocacy effort that we have undertaken has been a step forward to amplify the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in Trinidad and Tobago, bringing visibility, awareness, and much-needed dialogue to the forefront. These initiatives and activities are proof that when we come together with purpose and resolve, we can create a real and lasting impact. Progress is not always linear, and the fight for equality and safety is far from over. We remain steadfast, knowing that every step we take brings us closer to the world we envision—a world where all LGBTQIA+ people are empowered and can thrive, free from the threat of harm or discrimination.

Building Bridges, Changing Lives

The road to justice, equality and true inclusivity is long and winding with its fair share of obstacles. But if there is one thing that we have learned over the past 13 years, it is that every challenge is an opportunity to grow and come back stronger. We have stood as a beacon of hope for years, advocating for equal access to support and education for every young person in their pursuit of a life free from discrimination and fear. 

As we mark this milestone, we reflect on our progress while boldly stepping into the future with a renewed commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. We have:

• We have trained over 100 secondary school educators, equipping them with the tools to create a safer and more inclusive classroom.
• We have provided psychotherapy services to LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, offering them a place to heal, to process, to be seen and to find community.
• We have also conducted pioneering research studies on bullying and gender-based violence in Secondary schools, ensuring that the stories of young people do not just go unheard, but are used to push for change, using real experiences and real data.

We have been able to overcome numerous roadblocks with a lot of hard work, dedication, collaboration with key stakeholders, and most of all – with all of you in mind. We have been able to build a community made up of dedicated volunteers, partners and everyone who has ever believed in our mission. Now is the time to rebuild that community.

A New Era of Purpose and Impact

As the social and political landscape continues to change, we recognize the need for our efforts to also evolve. Now more than ever, we must adapt, advocate, and take decisive action to respond to the current climate. With this in mind, in 2024, SLF made a concerted effort to assess our operations, broaden our reach, and enhance our impact.

We engaged in comprehensive strategic planning, enabling us to meaningfully define the next chapter of our work. Through various immersive activities – such as emotional intelligence training, healing exercises and the onboarding of new board members – we have strengthened our leadership, realigned ourselves with our core values, and crafted our strategic objectives for the coming two years.

At the core of this evolution is our revitalized Mission and Vision:

• Our Mission:

Empowering LGBTQIA+ youth to live freely through the provision of support, education, and advocacy.

• Our Vision:

A society where every LGBTQIA+ person is celebrated, supported, and empowered to live freely and where every home, school, and community fosters love, respect, and equality.

Expanding Our Reach and Strengthening Our Impact

While we are incredibly proud of how far we have come, we know our work is far from over. Discrimination, violence, and mental health struggles remain pressing issues, but so too does our resolve. This next era of our existence will be about deepening our impact, strengthening our support systems, and continuing to empower young people to create the change they deserve. We have committed to embracing digital transformation to expand access to education and support in new and exciting ways, dedicated to providing training, resources and safe spaces for educators and LGBTQIA+ people and their families. We will also continue to use film as a tool for advocacy as we embark on the expansion of our short film, “My Maxi”. 

A Call To Action

None of our work is possible without you. But we need your support!

• Donate: Your support helps us provide life-changing programs, resources, and advocacy efforts. Donations can be made via our First Citizens Bank account (account number 2165365).
• Volunteer: Whether you have skills in communications, policy research, accounting and book-keeping, event management, youth mentorship or any way that you can support, we welcome you to join us in making a difference.
• Engage: We encourage you to share our work, advocate for inclusive policies, and stand with LGBTQIA+ youth across Trinidad and Tobago.

Thirteen years is a milestone, but it is not the destination. It’s a reminder that we are still here, still fighting, and still dreaming of a world where no young person has to suffer in silence. That spark that was ignited 13 years ago has grown into a blazing fire, fueled by passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to push harder, to advocate louder, and to love deeper. We all have a role to play in creating a world where LGBTQIA+ youth are not just accepted but celebrated, where families are stronger, schools are safer, and every young person is empowered to live their truth.

The future is ours to build—together.