News
TCI: Women in Sports celebrates 8 Years
#TurksandCaicos, April 14, 2021 – In an effort to promote Gender Equality in sports, the former President of the Commonwealth Games Association and Sports Hall of Famer Mrs. Rita Gardiner partnered with the Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Carolyn Dickinson to organize an initiative for women and girls of the Turks and Caicos Islands. After much consultation with sporting bodies, the first women, sport and physical activity was established, named “TCI Women in Sport”.
The launch of this most needed body took place on the 13th April, 2013 in Providenciales and in Grand Turk on the 14th April, 2013 by the then Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Akeirra Missick.
The organization is an independent group with a cross section of women throughout the communities of the TCI with interest in bringing about gender equality in all sectors of society as well as persons keen in sporting activities. This Association will help to identify and place women and girls in the various sporting disciplines; provide the required support to allow them to maximize their full potential; to award women’s achievements; to increase the number of women in decision-making roles. Wis is committed to changing attitudes to ensure girls and women have a life-long involvement in sport and physical activity and to cultivate relationships with international organizations.
To this end, the Women in Sports TCI signed a MOU with their Canadian Women in Sports partners and have also established great ties with the Women’s Commission in the Caribbean.
WIS Vision – Our shared aspirations tor TCI
Turks and Caicos Islands have a holistic and equitable sport and physical activity system where all girls and women can participate.
Mission – Our Core purpose and reason for being the Turks and Caicos Islands Women in Sports Association that is a catalyst to change the mindset of stakeholders, close the gender gap and create a revolution of women and girls involved in sports and physical activity through a multi-sectoral approach.
Our Values – We believe in being fair
Fair – We foster partnerships and engage in discussions
Audacious – We take risks and strive to achieve high standards
Inclusive – we encourage equal access to all programs and opportunities
We embrace diversity
Our Canadian partners assisted us immediately with an Intern, Kathleen Reeves who immediately set to work with the CGA President by developing Grassroots programs. WIS’ first program was ‘Learn to Swim” a program for young girls and women who needed to master the art of swimming or learn basic survival skills. That program runs every summer and is one of our most popular on WIS’ sporting calendar for the youths of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Due to the pandemic it was postponed in 2020, there are many other sporting activities for Adults and Children alike. Our most anticipated event is the Christmas Gala and Awards banquet.
Special recognition must be made of the Presidents, Mrs. Florence Jarrett-Dunkley, Sherry Ingham, Angela Brooks and currently Symadia Ingham-Wallace, all of whom did an outstanding job in the development of Sports and Gender equality for women and girls in the Turks and Caicos Islands.