by Curlan Campbell
- Shara Foundation driven by heartwarming story of Sharalee, also known as “Shara” Blaisdell
- Foundation currently partnering with Bel Air Home for Children and Adolescents and Queen Elizabeth Home for Children
- Foundation will launch Youth Empowerment Programme to provide further support and opportunities for young people
Dr Salisha Allard-Blaisdell established her foundation to empower other orphans and youth from disadvantaged communities in Grenada. Dr Allard-Blaisdell, who was orphaned at the age of 15, is now dedicating herself to nonprofit work through Shara Foundation.
Having experienced foster care, she understands the difficulties that youth in the foster care system face. “I have had a dream since I was about 15 years old to establish a nonprofit organisation in Grenada that would provide support for children,” she said. “Growing up, I lived in the Sapodilla Home after my mother passed away from cancer. I couldn’t attend her funeral in Carriacou due to financial constraints. This experience left me with night terrors and a deep yearning for a mother’s touch.”
Through her foundation, she has made efforts to address the underlying issues that hinder their progress in life after leaving the system, going beyond simply offering aid to orphanages and students, and instead focusing on empowering them to become self-reliant. “I am committed to creating a nurturing place for children like me or youth who are undergoing similar experiences. The birth of Shara Foundation has been a lifelong dream. Our approach to alleviating poverty is highly collaborative. Rather than simply providing supplies to needy students, we empower them to become self-reliant. This allows them to support both themselves and their communities,” she added.
In June 2023, Dr Allard-Blaisdell established the Shara Foundation, driven by the heartwarming story of Sharalee, also known as “Shara” Blaisdell, and her spouse, Ken Blaisdell, who adopted Salisha from Grenada, and went above and beyond to nurture the young woman, making sure she was well-prepared and capable of helping other young people from similar backgrounds.
Shara Foundation has called for action on the health, education and wellbeing of orphans and underprivileged youth in disadvantaged communities in Grenada. Part of the foundation’s goals over the next 5–10 years includes increasing high school graduation rate by 10%, increasing college enrollment and completion rates by 20% and creating vocational training and employment.
Dr Allard-Blaisdell said the foundation will also be focusing on improving the island health care system through a number of initiatives aimed at reducing supply disparities by 10% in 5 years via equitable distribution of medical resources, improving access to primary care by 20% in 5 years via innovative scheduling and telemedicine and expanding mental health and stigma awareness throughout communities. “Shara Foundation has a strategic plan in place for 2025-2030, and our team will continue to hold regular planning meetings to ensure our goals are well-defined and our KPIs are effectively targeted. With my extensive background in leadership studies and practice, I understand the importance of strategic planning, forging strong partnerships, and team building. I am committed to leveraging the expertise of our dedicated team members to engage in meaningful strategic planning and to establish valuable partnerships that will help us achieve our objectives.”
This year, Shara Foundation is focusing on 3 key initiatives that align closely with its commitment to alleviate poverty and empower lives. The first is SHARES Back-to-School Supplies Launch, which aims to equip students with the necessary supplies to succeed academically, ensuring they have a strong start to their school year. The second is the Dr SAB Health Aid Programme, to provide essential health support and services, which are critical for the overall wellbeing and success of children and youth living within residential institutions in Grenada.
Shara Foundation is currently partnering with Bel Air Home for Children and Adolescents and Queen Elizabeth Home for Children and hope to collaborate with Father Mallagan Home for Boys. Additionally, the foundation will launch a Youth Empowerment Programme to provide further support and opportunities for young people. This initiative includes the sponsorship of awards and supporting an inaugural STEAM Summer Intensive programme that is in the works, to be led by Dr Caroline Henry-Packer, Programme Director and Faculty at St George’s University (SGU).
Shara Foundation has recently launched its new website, https://sharafoundation.org, and is encouraging everyone to support by making a donation or contacting them to learn more or get involved.
