educater21

Author Biography Caron Asgarali is an educator, an author of three books, an inspirational speaker, a runner and the mother of one son. A former Chemistry school teacher from Vistabella, San Fernando in Trinidad, Caron retired from teaching on medical grounds after being shot in her face, chest and shoulder during an attempted robbery in 2013. She has since undergone reconstructive and plastic surgery and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After medical treatment and counselling, Caron was able to write and publish her first book in 2014, a memoir entitled From Lion to Lamb, A Spiritual Journey. Her journey as a speaker began shortly thereafter. She has since spoken at events hosted by a national and regional insurance company, by Rotary Clubs of Trinidad and at a Christian Chamber of Commerce event in Oveido, Miami. This was followed by her other two books in 2016 and 2017, a prayer book and Bounce Back Better, a comprehensive guide on resilience and an eye opener for persons to better understand the full impact of crime on the lives of victims. In February 2017, Caron founded Project R.A.R.E. (Raising Awareness on the Ripple Effect of gun violence), a not for profit organization that advocates against gun violence, for peace and that promotes resilience building skills. Project R.A.R.E. has since hosted many Peace Services both on its own and in partnership with other groups such as Transforming Treasures, a local organization led by Dr. Darin Mohammed and the Rotary Club of Princes Town and the Trinidad. Community outreach programmes have also been conducted including with the Piparo Village Council of South Trinidad. In June 2017, Project R.A.R.E. took its mission to Cape Town in South Africa where Caron presented at the Pathways to Resilience IV: Global South Perspectives on the topic "Resilience in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: A Caribbean Response to Crime, Sudden Violence and Personal Devastation." A character education programme, Touching Minds, Saving Lives, targetting youths was launched in January 2018 by Project R.A.R.E. in conjunction with the office of the Deputy Mayor of San Fernando, Trinidad. As part of the national outreach, Caron under Project R.A.R.E. hosted a conference, Beyond the Bullet: Understanding and Reducing Gun Violence in Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with the University of Trinidad and Tobago's Institute of Criminology and Public Safety. Caron was nominated as one of twenty Outlook Inspirations by the BBC in May 2018 for her work against gun violence.