Ancilla Ashley Kirby, 31, is passionate about philanthropy, charity, politics and the empowerment of young women.

That passion was born when she worked in the Social Development Ministry from 2012 to 2017. There she interfaced with the public, working to get people grants, doing community outreach projects, and providing assistance to those in need. And it made her realise helping others was something she wanted to do with her life.

Her passion and hard work has led to her being shortlisted for two awards for the 26th Annual National Youth Awards hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service on October 2: Youth Activism/Service and the Communication and Media awards.

Kirby said it was a shock when she learned she was nominated and shortlisted because there are so many “outstanding young people” in TT.

“I don’t really have much resources to work with but there is a saying that you don’t have to do great things, but you can do small things in a great way.”

She said it is an amazing honour to be nominated and speculates that her work had a great impact on those who nominated her.

“I grew up in a very humble environment in an at-risk community, in Success Village, Laventille. As a young woman I would have encountered a lot of horrid circumstances that would have made me say I need to be the change that I want to see.

“Going to school there were murders, sometimes in front of your home or on the corner, young men just turning to a life of crime and dying. You talk to them and hope for the best but it doesn’t always work out. These things break my heart.”

[caption id="attachment_916733" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ancilla Kirby, with an award for her work with the PNM Laventille West Youth League, believes politics can be a platform for change. - PHOTO BY AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]

She said some people assume all people from Laventille are illiterate, have no potential or drive and that upsets her.

“Yes, we have crime and things that occur could be off-putting, but we have good people from here and there are a lot of positives in Laventille that should be highlighted. This is something that I work towards. Honest to God, I don’t want to see our community having to go through this unnecessary stigmatisation. I just want Laventille to be a better place.”

Kirby has always been interested in studying history, law, politics, and anything she could learn to better herself and serve others, even screening to be a local government candidate in 2019.

“I follow a mantra: In order in find yourself, you must lose yourself in the service of others. That’s my philosophy and that’s how I intend to live my life.”

Kirby went through a lot of difficult times and is not prepared to see others go through the same things she did. She understands it is not only the government’s responsibility but NGOs, community-based organisations, corporate participation, and individuals also need to get involved.

She plans to wor