Who We Are

About Us

The Empowerment Project (TEP) is administered from London but has an international reach. We train and engage with unemployed youth across the United Kingdom through collaboration with various Strategic Partners, Schools, Pupil Referral Units, Colleges and Universities. Through these partners in the public and private sectors, we'll be able to secure employment opportunities for our learners.

TEP is dedicated to revitalizing communities through education, support, and active engagement. Grounded in the mission of "Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives," we focus on four vital pillars: Legal Advice and Support, Education and Training, Domestic Violence Awareness, and Welfare & Charity Wrap Around Services.

Within a three to five-year horizon we will move to full For-Youth By-Youth mode, where young adults who have taken the courses, are now involved at all levels of our operations, from Board of Directors oversight to senior management and frontline staff.

Whether we are providing essential life skills, raising awareness for social issues, or offering a helping hand to those in need, our goal is to foster a ripple effect of growth and empowerment. We believe that by providing the right tools and a supportive community, every individual has the potential to overcome obstacles and achieve lasting success. At The Empowerment Project, we aren’t just building a platform; we are building a foundation for a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Governance

Our operations are managed by Calvin Wilson and Associates, a Global AML/CFT Consulting Firm to ensure institutional integrity. From our London head office, we maintain institutional oversight where every project adheres to the highest standards of governance and integrity. The Empowerment Project (TEP) is an officially approved initiative under the strategic oversight of the London Area Advisory Committee (LAAC) and the South England Conference (SEC) of Seventh-day Adventists.

The Founder

Calvin E.J Wilson is the founder and Principal Consultant at Calvin Wilson and Associates, a Global AML/CFT Consulting Firm providing strategic and public affairs services to governments and public/private sector stakeholders on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) issues. With over 25 years of experience in the financial crimes industry, Wilson has extensive knowledge in law, banking, and law enforcement. He has a proven track record of helping clients build strong and effective AML/CFT programs that protect against financial crime and ensure compliance with complex regulatory requirements.

Wilson was the Immediate Past and first Caribbean national to hold the post of Executive Director of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which he held for 19 years, after one year as Deputy Executive Director. He was the longest-serving Executive Director/Secretary in the global Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) network, spanning two decades, and the terms of four FATF Executive Secretaries.

Wilson is well-versed in its inner workings, having attended at least 61 FATF Plenary/Working Group and Intersessional Meetings between 1998-2017. Wilson has experience in the formation and development of three FATF Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) in Eastern and Southern Africa, West Africa, and Latin America, and operates with ease at the highest political, diplomatic, economic, multilateral, institutional, and private sector levels globally. He is an advocate for the creative use of emerging technologies to strengthen national AML/CFT compliance levels.

Wilson holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, is a Barrister at Law, Lincoln’s Inn, an Attorney at Law in Trinidad and Tobago, and a former commercial banker. He is a Criminal Justice Policy Consultant with the Ministry of Justice, United Kingdom, and was appointed Chairman of the Thames Valley Police Race Action Plan Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board in October 2022. During his tenure as Executive Director, the CFATF was acclaimed by former FATF Presidents as having processes that could be emulated by other FSRBs and given the accolade of being “one of the best in class."

Our History