Republic Bank Funding Delivers better Equine Therapy Access to Children in Tobago

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2025

Republic Bank Funding Delivers better Equine Therapy Access to Children in Tobago

Real change is underway at Healing With Horses in Buccoo. A generous $100,000 TTD donation is helping expand the Equine Natural Therapy for Children, which provides inclusive, horse-assisted therapy to support emotional and developmental growth. This project was made possible through the generosity of Republic Bank Limited, as part of its Power to Make a Difference Programme.

The donation is helping the organization strengthen and sustain this program, including support for therapy horse care, safe facility access, and inclusive staffing.

The first $50,000 TTD disbursed has already supported:

  • Stipends for five differently-abled adults
  • Training for eight youth participants in the HWH Empowerment Program
  • Repairs to fencing, plumbing, and animal enclosures
  • Daily care for more than 30 therapy animals
  • Monthly events that invite the public into a healing, inclusive space

The second installment will support free equine therapy for frontline workers and continued improvements across the park.

“This funding creates momentum we’ve never had before,” said Veronika Danzer LaFortune, Director of Healing With Horses. “It’s helping us hire, train, heal, and rebuild—with purpose.”

Healing With Horses is a registered non-profit in Tobago that provides inclusive equine-assisted therapy and nature-based programs for differently-abled individuals, youth, and the wider community. The organization also offers safe haven to rescued horses and other animals in need of urgent care.

Despite the recent support, the sanctuary is operating with significant financial strain and is in urgent need of continued donations to keep up with rising costs, rescue care, and volunteer stipends.

Representatives from Republic Bank will visit the site on April 24 to see the progress firsthand.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Veronika Johanna Danzer-La Fortune
CEO / Founder

"The Love & Magic Information Center"

HEALING WITH HORSES FOUNDATION
10-14 Galla Trace Buccoo Scarborough 901131
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Office hours Monday - Saturday 8.00am  - 4.00pm
Office-001-868-639-0953
Cell - 001-868-307-3425

www.healing-with-horses.org
info@healing-with-horses.org
support@healing-with-horses.org
www.being-with-horses.com

 

The Real Secret Fashion Show

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Meet the Designers

Hair By Renique, The Studio Salon

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In a land not so far away from Captain Hook’s shipwreck, Pixie Hollow and Peter Pan’s Neverland, you will find in the southernmost Caribbean a twin island state called Trinidad and Tobago. From the earliest settlers, the indigenous Amerindian tribes to the colonial masters of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch and British heritage to the enslaved and immigrant people of Africa, India, China and Syria, the island has become a creative hub. Today, the bloodlines of the ancestors are survived by the unsurpassed creative energy of the current citizenship. In the mist of the morning pixie dust that covers this land, the creative pixies are easily identifiable. They are passionate about their craft as master craftsmen and women in their trades. They are always upskilling to hone their craft and to be their best to all those who they are called to serve. The pixies stand in their indelible power with the affirmative that when they show up they are standing with the support of their ancestors and all those who came before them. In this feature, two equally gorgeous and talented pixies bring their styling superpowers to fulfill their purpose to uplift all those who bask in their presence.

 

The gregarious art form of styling is far from restricted in the pixie hollows of hairstylists. Hair by Renique, The Studio Salon is conveniently located in Woodbrook, Port of Spain. The studio offers cut, colour, styling and keratin treatments. Hair by Renique, the Studio Salon accommodates for every hair type from curly to straight and everything in between. The chief in command is the beautiful hairstylist Renique Brown. This boss babe is joined by another bombshell stylist, Summer Honnock from Hair by Summer H. The synergy of their personalities and talents combine for a comradery that is hinged on a platonic friendship that is nurturing and supportive of the other. They inspire and aspire to be their best selves in their creative professional space. They continue to educate themselves and never fail to share what they have learned with each other. This is extended to client consultation where they are excited to empower clients to take care of their hair.

 

The Studio Salon exudes a class of untouched excellence with a burning passion for their craft in hairstyling. The pixies go the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction. They respect themselves, their craft and their clients even more. They consult with their clients and never forget to have empathy for them. It is crucial that Renique has realized from the get go the critical role that stylists get to play when they are invited into the lives of their clients to share in being part of their client’s life story. There is no moment that is too big or too small  for Hair by Renique, The Studio Salon from vacation and travel hair  to fixing a “diy” hairstyle gone wrong to lustrous wedding or proposal hair to some much needed self-care.  A haircut and hair colour treatment is a discovery of self where the participant enlists the aid of the pixies to guide them as they shed layers of self before dreaming in colour. It is a bespoke and transformative experience that is cleansing and detoxifying as they prepare you to reset to renew and realign.

Hair By Renique Before & After

 

Hair by Renique offers a sacred space for all. Renique’s passion for her craft is reflected in her mindfulness of her clients’ experience from booking to arrival to wait time, to hairstyling and follow up. She ensures client bookings are seamless and hassle free. It is worth noting the humility of the creative pixie who embraces rather than expunges client feedback. Hair by Renique, The Studio Salon always follows up with their clients post transformation as it is key to their lifelong journey of continued growth and development.  The stylists take the time to listen and talk effectively to all who grace them with their presence. The management of clients’ needs, wants and expectations is gravely considered before they sprinkle their pixie dust.  Renique acknowledges the creative power that lies within her hands and that of her team; to create something from nothing and to create from chaos comes with an irrevocable responsibility for creation,  for themselves and for their clients.

She values the divinity of hairstylists’ gifts, the importance of creating from a clean heart, mind and space and that of blessing all those who enter her sacred creative space and leave with blissful and healing vibes through the sacred exchange of energy. Hair by Renique, The Studio Salon embodies a creative prowess that empowers other pixies to own their respective gifts so they can reciprocate the blessing of their presence in the lives of others.

Book Your Appointment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairbyrenique/?hl=en

Whatsapp: 1.868.722.9832

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hairbyrenique

Email: Renique.Brown@hotmail.com

Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa – The Airbnb Super Host

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There is no debate that travel is back with sold out flights, high occupancy rates at hotels and a mayhem of delays at airports. Tourists have been locked away for far too long and the travel bug has definitely started to catch on. Noticeably, there is something different in the travel behavior of the new tourist. They yearn to travel like a local, to stay longer, to sometimes travel in groups and they seek authenticity. After living vicariously through everyone else’s social media reels for two years they have decided to create their own travel stories. Enter Airbnb, the travel accommodation solution that is surpassing travel expectations everywhere including the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Airbnb platform provides incredible options that best suits the traveler’s preference in design, budget, amenities, facilities, environment and even experience.  The site serves major design inspiration for design aficionados who benefit from an Airbnb stay that is more than “Architectural Digest” worthy. Airbnb has it all from condos to penthouse suites to studios, treehouses to villas, beachfront apartments to homes and rooms. For the traveler that is looking to live like a local, they can enjoy a longer stay at a price point that matches their budget. They can immerse themselves in the immediate culture and environment that surrounds them. They can explore and indulge when they shop, eat and mingle with the locals.

Although an Airbnb offers the comfort of home with its household amenities and facilities, it does not compromise on uniqueness of experience. This only enhances the stay for the traveling pandemic tourist by providing grounding in the familiarity of home. Light routine tasks help to manifest comfort and safety of home for example doing light laundry or cooking a meal with a group of friends or family on the odd occasion.  Grounding and a sense of security is something much appreciated by all tourists who continue to wear their pandemic battle scars of anxiety and trauma and carry their healing with them wherever they go.

Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa is a super host on the Airbnb site that has quickly become the trendiest “must stay” Airbnb in the sister isle of Tobago. There are many reasons why this property and the island is popular; its warmth and hospitality, a UNESCO world heritage site located at the oldest protected forest reserve in the western hemisphere, The Main Ridge, The Mystery Tombstone in Plymouth, a buzzing island nightlife, adventure sports like surfing and underwater diving, insatiable culinary delights like the national dish of curried crab and dumpling, catamaran cruises, cocoa estate tours and the Tobago Heritage Festival among many others. The Airbnb Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa is also the highlight of any guest’s stay. It is an architecturally designed modern, contemporary luxury villa tucked away in the quiet and idyllic community of Black Rock. The property sits on 6,000+ square feet of residence with skylights, 12 feet high ceilings, a chef’s kitchen, 4 well-appointed bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, a poolside cabana bar and a saltwater pool. The property can comfortably accommodate a party of eight persons.

Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa has taken their brand a step further with the embodiment of their namesake, Nirvana; a space predisposed to helping travelers in their journey to achieve an eternal state of bliss. They have included a self-guided retreat with their Return to Love group package. A group of besties, co-workers, family and or friends can travel with the purpose of healing at Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa. Although each of them are on their separate paths in this life, they are bonded by their strength to get through anything and everything together. In their own time and space guests can sit with themselves to relax, reconnect and recharge at Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa. They can opt for a private chef to cater their healthy meals and choose from the many wellness activities the island has to offer that also complements their retreat experience such as yoga or equestrian therapy like Healing with Horses. Travelers can rest assured that the quality of the Return to Love experience has been curated in tandem with an internationally accredited Colour Life Coach who provides the group with a guided journal during their stay and a live follow up session post retreat.

Without a doubt, the new normal translates to a world that will never be the same. The travel and lifestyle industry recognizes this and considers the inherent physical, emotional and mental transition of the travelling pandemic tourist. Tourists can relax knowing that the travel and lifestyle industry cares for and listens to their demands just as much as tourists care for and anticipate their future travel plans. Their relationship is a beautiful symbiosis that is becoming universal. Trinidad and Tobago supports and welcomes this ethos. Travelers interested in venturing to the most southern tip of the Caribbean can also look to visiting Trinidad and taking a trip to the sister isle, Tobago. They can stay at Airbnb’s like Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa and upgrade to the Return to Love self-guided retreat.

Contact Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa

Whatsapp +1 929-318-6828

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