Peace Foundation TT: walking against gun violence in Trinidad and Tobago
Published · Mission-Driven
Peace Foundation TT has one goal, and its site states it without decoration: end gun violence in Trinidad and Tobago. Its way of going about it is just as direct. People from different communities put on white and walk together through the streets. Its motto is "One People. One Nation. One Love."
At a glance
- Who they are: Peace Foundation TT, a grassroots movement of ordinary people from across Trinidad and Tobago.
- What they do: Organize free Walk for Peace events, and take small donations and volunteers to keep the walks going.
- Where: Trinidad and Tobago. Their first walk was on Piccadilly Street in Port of Spain.
- Who it's for: Families who want to walk, neighbours who want to help, and people in the diaspora who want to support from abroad.
- Website: Peace Foundation TT's site
Who they are
The About page opens with a line that sets the tone: "We are ordinary people who chose to stand up. Not against the government — for each other." The group is careful to say it is not a political organization and not an uprising. In its own words, it is neighbours, mothers, fathers and youths from every corner of the country, taking a stand for peace.
Their blog post "Why We Walk" names five pillars the movement stands on:
- Love for every community, even the ones you've never met.
- Respect for every life, every block and every story.
- Unity, meaning different communities with one goal.
- Peace, which they call a choice you make every day.
- Togetherness, because nobody builds a future alone.
The message they come back to most often is short: put down the guns and unite as one.
The first Walk for Peace
Their first walk took place on Wednesday, June 3, at 3pm, on Piccadilly Street in Port of Spain, around the bridge. People came from communities all over Trinidad and Tobago, dressed in white. The recap on their blog describes mothers, fathers, children and elders walking together, with positive music along the way. The kids walked out front.
The thank-you at the end of that post goes to everyone who showed up, shared the flyer, brought their family or said a prayer. It's a reminder that a walk like this is built by many people doing small things.
What to expect at a walk
If you've never been, their guide What to Expect at a Walk for Peace covers the basics.
- Wear white. It's the movement's symbol of peace, unity and hope.
- Bring the kids. Every walk has a strong police presence for the safety of participants and their families, and the group says the walk is for the children most of all.
- Expect music and fellowship. The route is a peaceful walk through the community, with positive music, a clear message against violence, attention to mental health and community support, and time for photos and meeting people from other communities.
- It's free. Their words: "It's free. It always will be."
Their June recap says the next walk date will be announced, and you can RSVP through their site to hear first.
How to help
The Donate and Volunteer options sit on Peace Foundation TT's ways to give. Each gift amount is tied to something specific:
- $2, One Candle of Peace. Every dollar helps them reach the next community.
- $5, Walk With Us. Covers printed flyers for a community.
- $10, Peace Shirt Fund. Puts a Walk for Peace shirt on a participant who can't afford one.
- $25, Community Champion. The group calls this the gift that makes a real difference to its operations, and notes that $25 from the diaspora goes a long way in T&T.
- Custom amount. The site says every dollar goes directly to Walk for Peace operations.
There's also a monthly membership. The recap post invites people to join the movement for $1 a month.
Volunteers are wanted as walk marshals and for community outreach, youth programs, logistics, media and partnerships. You tell them a little about yourself on the volunteer form, and they reach out before the next walk.
Why small amounts matter here
Most of what this group asks for is a few dollars, and the site tells you where it goes: flyers for the next community, shirts for walkers who can't buy their own, and the running of the walks themselves. That makes it easy to see what your money does. For someone living outside Trinidad and Tobago, a $5 or $10 gift is a concrete way to back the people walking at home.
You can read more on their CloserAccess page.