Leaves of Life Celebrating Knowledge Valuing Experience

Leaves of Life (LOL) is a woman-led knowledge-based non-governmental, non-profit organisation.

It was registered on July 30, 2012 through the Companies Act of Trinidad Tobago as a private, autonomous, independent, not-for-profit organisation, working in the public interest.

This follows its informal existence since 2000 in the global to local public and community services of Dr Kris Rampersad and co-opted friends, associates and well-wishers.

Legacy Initiative

Leaves of Life is a legacy initiative of Dr Kris Rampersad to promote gender and culture sensitive knowledge sharing so as to grow respect and appreciation for the diverse indigeneous, folk and migrant cultural and creative heritage of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and aligned diasporas across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

It grew out of a recognised need for better facilitation and facilities for development of the knowledge assets of Trinidad and Tobago, its Caribbean and global diasporas in the first instance, and thence for engagements of the region with international communities of and broader communities of interests across the globe, encompassing small islands, the developing world and the Global South.

Physical/Metaphysical Structure

Leaves of Life functions as a blended online and offline/physical facility at the centre of a satellite of communities of interests, networks, collaborators, creators and well-wishers in the public, private, NGO/CBOs academic, media spheres.

Satellites and Networks

It is the umbrella body of the Leaves of Life GloCal Knowledge Pot Multipurpose Virtual Platform. It includes the MultiMedia Museum, Galleries and Digital Archives, Creative Studios, Learning Laboratories, Learning Journeys and Tours and the Global Caribbean Digital Salon.

Leaves of Life engages with other networks, communities of interests, supportive mechanisms, experts and service providers through collaboration, co-opting,  and outsourcing. It maintains transparency through regular social media reporting on its activities, engagements and progress.

Focus on Innovation

Leaves of Life is devoted to developing new models for speedy decision-making, productivity and progress to navigate the fragmented, divisive, contentious and underdeveloped regional environment with multiple inadequacies and insufficient capacities and expertise.

It aims to develop appreciation, respect and value for the knowledge traditions, oral and literary cultural heritage and creative endeavours of the diverse indigeneous folk and migrant communities of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diasporas across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, the Global South and the Developing World.

Leaves of Life Vision

A region secure in the vibrancy and potency of its eco-cultural heritage interconnections to sustain its diverse indigeneous and migrant communities and cultures and confident in the  value of its knowledge, know how and knowledge holders.

Mission

To accrue value to creative, cultural and literary products and services for use by the upstream and downstream value chains across educational, entertainment, industrial, corporate, media and other sectors; enhance the capacity of knowledge holders, creatives and cultural workers to enjoy sustainable livelihoods; pursue community-based income-generating activities; and encourage commercial and altruistic support and investments in creative knowledge-based initiatives.

Leaves of Life Objectives

• Accrue value to creative, cultural and literary products and services for use by the upstream and downstream value chains across educational, entertainment, industrial, corporate, media and other sectors; enhance the capacity of knowledge holders, creatives and cultural workers to enjoy sustainable livelihoods; pursue community-based income-generating activities; and encourage commercial and altruistic support and investments in creative knowledge-based initiatives.
• Promote respect, appreciation, value and commercial and philanthropic investments in the Knowledge, IP, Creative Industries and Literary Heritage and Cultural Tourism  
• Enhance the region’s knowledge resource base to become more accessible and relevant to educational, industrial and other service needs;
• Facilitate greater readiness of intellectual assets to enable better participation in the global knowledge economy.
• Establish and grow linkages among countries of the region and associated diasporas
• Develop co-operations, partnerships, linkages and gender and culture sensitive engagements to attract philanthropic support and investments in knowledge based products and services, IP, Creative Education, Literary Heritage and Cultural Tourism.to advance equitable development between north-south, developed/developing countries.