Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 16 March 2026 — Students, educators, and community partners gathered at the TCIFA Football Field on Venetian Road for the 2nd Annual Kick for Inclusion Soccer Festival, an event dedicated to celebrating inclusion through sport and creating opportunities for children of all abilities to participate, connect, and thrive. The festival welcomed several distinguished guests including Hon. Rachael Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture; Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism; and Mrs. Sonia Fulford Missick, President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA). Special invited guest Ms. Olivia Yacé, Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire 2025, also attended the event in support of inclusive education initiatives in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During the event, Ms. Yacé made a generous donation to the Department of Special Education Needs Services (SENS) to support the expansion of behavioural therapy services for children with special educational needs. The contribution reflects a growing network of community and international partners committed to supporting inclusive education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
At present, the Special Education registry includes 467 learners, with approximately 215 students having received behavioural therapy services through either individual or group sessions. Despite these efforts, the demand for services continues to increase as new learners are diagnosed, the majority presenting with autism and related behavioural challenges.
To address this urgent need, the Department expanded behavioural therapy services through its local Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partner, OasisABA, led by therapist Mrs. Melisha Williams. This donation will be directed to OasisABA to allow for immediate implementation, continuity of care, and direct service delivery without administrative delays, ensuring that more students can access critical therapeutic support.
Hon. Rachael Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, expressed appreciation for the donation and highlighted the importance of partnerships in strengthening inclusive education, “This generous contribution reinforces our commitment to ensuring that every child has access to the resources and support they need to succeed. Expanding behavioural therapy services through partnerships such as this allows us to better support students with diverse learning needs while continuing to build an education system where every child feels valued, supported, and included.”
The Director of SENS, Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, also emphasized the significance of the support for students and families across the islands, “Behavioural therapy plays a critical role in helping many of our students develop the social, communication, and emotional skills necessary to succeed in school and in everyday life. This support allows us to reduce waiting times for services and ensure that more children receive the individualized intervention they need to reach their full potential.”
ABA therapist and owner of OasisABA, Mrs. Melisha Williams also welcomed the opportunity to continue supporting students through this partnership. She noted, “our mission is to support children with developmental and neurodivergent needs through evidence-based approaches such as applied behavior analysis. This generous contribution strengthens our ability to expand services and help children develop communication, social, and life skills that allow them to thrive at home, in school, and in society.”
Through this sponsorship, additional learners will gain access to structured behavioural intervention that directly supports their development and school success. The initiative will:
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Reduce waitlist delays
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Support families navigating complex diagnoses
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Improve long-term developmental outcomes for students
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Strengthen inclusion within schools and the wider community
The Ministry of Education continues to work closely with community partners to expand support services for students with special educational needs, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to participate fully in school and community life. For more information and to access services, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Ms. Olivia Yacé, Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire 2025 delivering remarks.
Ms. Olivia Yacé, Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire 2025 and Miss Universe Belize 2025 with the Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor.
Mrs. Melisha Williams of OasisABA receiving the donation from Ms. Olivia Yace alongside (L-R) the Acting General Secretary of the Football Association, Ms. Candia Ewing, President of the Football Association, Mrs. Sonia Fulford-Missick, the Coordinator of Assessments, Mrs. Lashaunda Dickenson-Skippings, the Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor, and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly.