About this Project

Centenarians of Barbados:  The Foundation Builders is a project co-developed by the former National Committee on Ageing, the Barbados Museum and Historical Society and the Barbados Government Information Service.

It aims to celebrate Barbadian centenarians at home and abroad by providing an accessible digital archive to explore centenarian stories, see how our island has been shaped by them, and learn what resources are available for senior citizens of Barbados. Through the online platform and accompanying exhibitions, Centenarians of Barbados:  Foundation Builders proposes to be an informative and interactive space for all Barbadians which highlights the significant milestone of becoming a centenarian.

The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs
The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs has been mandated to address matters that would ensure improvement in the overall care and well-being of this country’s senior citizens, as well as promote activities that would give recognition to their lives.

It is the first time since Barbados gained Independence that the name of a Ministry is specifically indicative of the Government’s intention to focus on matters that affect our elderly.  Previously, the National Committee on Ageing, under the remit of the then Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, provided recommendations for action on similar issues.

Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS)
The BMHS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, whose mandate is to collect, document and conserve evidence of Barbados cultural, historical and environmental heritage; and to interpret and present this evidence for all sectors of society.

Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS)
The BGIS is the official communications arm of the Barbados Government. This Department is responsible for the dissemination of public information to the various news media and the general public. The BGIS was established in 1958 in response to the need to inform and educate the public regarding government and its activities.