In 2021, towards the end of the pandemic, I got in touch with my cousin in Barbados to see how she was getting on because she had mentioned there was a possibility that the company she worked for might close down.

 

Unfortunately the company did close down leaving her without a job, money and food.

 

I told her I would see what I could do to help, as during this time I was getting back to work myself and was able to send her a barrel of food and clothes.

 

During the same time I decided to reach out to the homeless in Barbados and, after introducing myself, asked what useful things I could send. During several emails I got the gist of what they needed so sent Rice, pasta, corn beef, tuna, spam, biscuits, corn flakes, porridge, as well as second  hand clothes for both adults and children who used the homeless shelter.

 

In August 2022 I was able to send a large shipment of clothes and food, thanks to the help and contributions made from people who heard my story.

 

I am self employed but also work in a Chiropractor’s clinic. Out of courtesy I asked the manager for some annual leave, explaining that I wanted the time off to send some food and clothes to the homeless in Barbados ahead of a planned trip to the island where we (my supportive girlfriend and I) would be visiting the homeless shelter. I was overwhelmed by how many items patients and staff gave me as contributions. In total 11 boxes and 2 barrels were sent out that were received with delight.

 

I sent another shipment before Christmas 2022 consisting of 3 white boards with pens and erasers, biro pens, 5 first aid kits, cleaning products for worktops, dettol  disinfectant, toothbrushes, toothpastes, porridge, multi vitamins, plasters, pasta, rice, roll on deodorant for men & women, new women’s briefs, lingerie tops, men’s briefs and biscuits for Christmas.

 

After several conversations with the President (Kemar Saffrey) of the Homeless Shelter, I asked how do they help the homeless/clients back into the community? He said by getting them onto online courses that teach them the skills needed to get back to work however, we do not have enough computers for them to use. With this in mind, I contacted a good friend of mine, Gary, who owns a computer business, and he was able to help provide some much needed tech. 

 

In March 2023 my girlfriend and I travelled back to Barbados for a holiday, and a 7 night cruise, to celebrate my 60th. Before our cruise we popped into the Homeless centre to give them some gifts, consisting of 6 Chromebooks, 2 laptops, 10 pairs of new trainer, 50 stickers with the homeless shelter’s logos on and 10 flash drives.

 

The president and staff were overwhelmed with the gifts and, after having some photos taken with the staff, we joined the president in his office for an impromptu chat.

 

During the conversation the president thanked me for the shipments I had sent so far, and that not only had my items helped the homeless, they had also helped some young kids and their families in the local community as well as other people in need. He suggested I start a foundation so I can help more people and communities in Barbados. I was shocked and overwhelmed by this suggestion but said yes. 

 

Whilst I was on our cruise I received a rough copy of the Foundation and decided to call it “The Dave Harper Make a Difference Foundation”.

 

On our return to Barbados, after the cruise, Kemar took us out for dinner to say thank you for all I have done. On our way to the restaurant he mentioned that he had invited a VIP to join us for dinner, who had heard about me because in one of those 11 eleven boxes and 2 barrels, there were 12 pairs of football boots that I had asked him to pass on to any football team or people who would be able to use them, and they had gone to one of the causes she supports. 

 

We were taken to a beautiful restaurant overlooking the sea however, our guest of honour hadn’t arrived yet. She arrived after we had been seated so Kemar collected her from reception, and as she walked through the restaurant I noticed people were looking at her, even the staff were very respectful. Kemar introduced her to us but, to be honest, I didn’t quite catch her name because the sea was very loud, and I didn’t like to ask for her name again .

 

Anyway, as we chatted she was interested to know how I came to be at this point in my life and why Barbados? I explained my story (as above) and she listened with interest. She told us of how she had trained to be a lawyer in the UK, before returning to Barbados to practice law. Her dad, being a well known politician in Barbados, had asked her to follow in his footsteps, which she did. We discussed how the pandemic had affected the country as a whole and how one death was one too many. 

 

She told us how she had been looking at a run down building that she wanted to use to help the local community, especially the kids. She wanted to create a safe space for them to be, grow and learn. The gentleman who owned the building said she could have it so, she raised the money to get the building into a respectful condition.

 

After further discussions she mentioned that she was looking to get some computers for use in the building. I said ‘I know a man!’ and can help. She was understandably cautious thinking I would send computers with English plugs. Kemar stepped in explaining that “he has considered every detail, as he gave us  6 Chromebooks and 2 laptops with the right leads as well as 50 stickers with the homeless logo on, so the clients couldn’t steal the new equipment”. I think it was at this point she sat back in her chair and said “wow, this is a man I can work with”.  She told us that next time we go to Barbados we should make it a working holiday to see the issues first hand. 

 

We carried on with dinner, having a great time, and when we were leaving we had some photos taken all together. We then parted with hugs, to which I was overwhelmed, still not knowing who she was but knowing she was a VIP. 

 

As we drove away Kemar said that she very rarely drives her own car as she either has a chauffeur or a police escort. As you can imagine, by this point my head was spinning.

 

When we reached our hotel, my cousin texted and asked how was dinner. I sent a reply with one of the photos of us all and she replied “So you went to dinner with the Deputy Prime minister of Barbados!” More head spinning, a quick google search and there she was, Santia Bradshaw, the Deputy Prime minister of Barbados. 

 

I am, once again, in the process of collating more items for my Foundation to send to Barbados, before heading back in November 2023 for that working holiday. While I’m there I hope to visit the shelter, the community house, meet some of the children and, hopefully, catch up the Deputy prime minister so we can discuss working together in the future.