By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS 

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedis.net

THE Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) announced the launch  of Map4 Good Bahamas, an initiative to improve access to resources and support for non-profit and faith-based organisations nationwide.

The project will create a comprehensive public directory and an interactive map, enabling users to easily locate organisations, understand the services they offer, and identify collaboration opportunities.

Vanessa Bethel, project manager for ORG, shared her motivation for the initiative, reflecting on her experience as an Abaconian affected by Hurricane Dorian. 

“I recognised the value of these organisations, but at the time, I remember, especially as the months went on after the storm and the initial emergency aid organisations had to leave, there was still support available, but sometimes you didn’t know who or where,” she said during a press conference. “I remember thinking, wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to easily identify where you can say, I have this need, and I know where to go and how to get that help.”

The Map4Good platform aims to help people find available services and facilitate connections between organisations. The initiative will include ongoing outreach to gather information about non-profit and faith-based organisations, as well as a phone survey to create a comprehensive overview of the sector, identifying potential collaboration opportunities and service gaps.

“Imagine being able to see in one place all of the non-profit and faith-based organisations in the country, but not just an inventory; it will be a tool to show an organisation’s location, the services they provide, the work they are doing, and the communities they serve,” Ms Bethel explained.

Matt Aubry, executive director of ORG, emphasised the significance of understanding the role of faith-based organisations in the community. 

“One of the biggest areas we want to understand is the wide array of work happening in our faith-based organisations. Churches were required to register as not-for-profit organisations, but they may not have operated in the same manner as other non-profits. This project gives us a chance to understand an important facet of the community that is doing a tremendous amount of good,” he said. 

Keisha Ellis, executive director of Hands for Hunger, highlighted the importance of community collaboration. “We’re all in this together,” she said.

“Anyone who does this kind of work knows that we cannot do it alone, and we shouldn’t expect to do it alone. So, I want to jump on your call to action and say, if you are a community organisation, if you are doing work, if you want to do work, reach out, become involved in this project.”

Ms Ellis also addressed funding challenges within the sector, saying: “One of the biggest cries that we hear from people in this community is the lack of funding. By having all of these things in place — having your registration and licenses — it makes it a lot easier to reach out to a variety of funders to accomplish your goals. This really is an opportunity for the sector to be strengthened, and by extension, for our entire community to be strengthened.”

As the project unfolds, Ms Bethel called for media support to raise awareness among non-profit and faith-based organisations and the wider public. The initiative plans to develop the comprehensive public directory and interactive map over the next year, allowing users to access information about various organisations and their activities with just a few clicks. This will enable organisations to see each other’s efforts, identify opportunities for strategic collaboration, and recognise areas where service gaps or duplication of efforts may exist.

Ms Bethel emphasised the platform’s importance for policymakers, noting that it will provide insights into who is working in the community and the critical issues at hand. She pointed out that individuals and organisations on the ground have valuable expertise that can influence government programming, helping policymakers allocate resources effectively to support vital community work.