Youth Speak Up - Year 1 Report

SEASON 1 Episodes 1–12

Designed to create a cultural shift and raise the participation of young people in the affairs that impact decisions in Trinidad and Tobago

SEASON 1

Executive Summary.......

EPISODES 1-12

This report identifies the highlights of this first year, including challenges encountered and best practices utilized to ensure objectives were met. Planned components are completed and naturally emerging activities and events have been implemented.

2021 has provided the Youth Speak UP project with key learnings.

Teamwork, preparation, and responsiveness are important but active listening to our participants is critical if we are to achieve the desired outcomes.

We began with 331 applicants and 248 signed their commitment letters to become participants. Some participants left after completing one and sometimes two components. We now have 137 participants.

Several students left the programme due to serious challenges; some found it difficult to complete assignments, while others requested greater flexibility in class scheduling to be able to attend. Other challenges included: • Contracting COVID. • Close family members contracting COVID. • Having to go out to work or school in an uncertain environment.

• Feelings of virtual burn out and/or depression.

• Loss of access to devices through theft or malfunction The Project Team quickly recognised that it was imperative to find ways to ensure participants were kept engaged and supported. In that regard, the team allied with the Social Work Unit of The UWI, St Augustine Campus, to develop an outreach system to provide support, guidance, and advice for participants’ continued engagement. In addition Project Partners are using

2

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

their networks to identify incentives to reward participants for engagement.

This will be rolled out more fully in year 2.

The Youth Speak UP Project Team deferred the Migrant and Refugees component to 2022 since these sessions require substantial face-to-face sessions which the COVID-19 pandemic does not allow. It is hoped that the environment would have improved in 2022 to ensure all persons enrolled under this category can enjoy the full benefit of the programme.

In 2022, Youth Speak UP will continue its work, collaborating with stakeholders and connecting youth from different districts, religious backgrounds, and ethnicities to create cultural change and, eventually, positive social impacts on Trinidad and Tobago.

Lynette Joseph-Brown Project Manager

How it Began s

l a e d i d e r a h s h t i w n a g e b . p i h s It all r e n t r a p a d an The St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), civil society organisations - Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Jabulous, and the Rotary Club of St Augustine - with funding from the European Union, came together to implement an innovative project for youth – Youth Speak UP. Programmes were designed to inform young people about existing opportunities and provide resources to support their development while giving them insights into their leadership styles and personalities.

High on the agenda was training in the ethical use of information and computer technology as well as social media platforms. The plan is to select some participants to undergo training in leadership and advocacy.

Arrival of the first COVID-19 case in Trinidad and Tobago in March 2020 and subsequent lockdown of the country forced a re-imagined action plan.

3

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

After many brainstorming sessions, budget meetings, reallocation of funds, and revision of actions, the plan could be executed. The situation demanded continued consultations with partners, donors, and participants to cater for the change from face-to-face delivery of programmes.

Zoom licenses, computers, and one portable WIFI device were acquired along with Moodle, an online learning management system. A ramped up human resource support included a Curriculum Specialist for programme delivery, dedicated support for website and social media management, as well as additional instructors.

Thirteen organisations participated in a stakeholders’ consultation on April 19, 2021 and discussed ways to derive synergies so as to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• Archdiocesan Ministry for Migrants and Refugees • Catholic Commission for Social Justice • Children’s Authority of Trinidad & Tobago • Civilian Conservation Corps • Department of Youth Affairs (Tobago) • Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) • Ministry of Youth Development and National Service • National Parent Teacher’s Association • Rotary Club of Piarco (UWI) • The Silver Lining Foundation • Trinidad & Tobago Cadet Force / Rotary Club of St. Augustine • Trinidad Youth Council • Youth Division (Tobago)

A May 8 Orientation Meeting saw the launch of the first component.

Intake Survey and Selection Youth Speak UP Project applicants were required to sign commitment letters. Anyone under 18 had to submit consent forms signed by their parents or guardians.

4

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Self-Assessment Tool: This helped the Project team analyse participants and understand their access to, ownership, and use of technology and devices. Among other things, the data enabled participant assignment in the delivery of basic and intermediate ICT and Social Media syllabi.

Visibility and Communication

Pre-test/post-test design will measure the effect of the programme on participants at the end of project.

Media Release of February 24, 2021: disseminated by The UWI’s Marketing and Communications Office.

The country’s continued lockdown gave added impetus to use the internet and social media for visibility and a Learning Management System to better manage the delivery of the project components in the virtual space.

Questions sought to understand: Media Release

• Involvement in groups and clubs in their communities • Kind of support needed • How they could contribute to their community • Self-awareness in terms of their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour • Their preparedness to take on greater roles and responsibilities • Qualities they believe are most important for successful leadership

Soft Launch, April 27, 2021: Popular television personality and radio broadcaster Mr Hans Des Vignes served as MC with messages delivered

by Acting Head of Delegation, Mr Sanjin Soldatić, Professor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Campus Principal of The UWI, St Augustine. The launch drew fifty-three viewers and the video subsequently received 1.7k views. It served the primary purpose of raising awareness and stimulating national interest.

Soft Launch

5

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Television Interviews, CNC3, March 12 and April 27, 2021; TTT NOW, March 24, 2021; and WESN AM Prime on July 16, 2021. Interviewees included the Project Manager and representatives of each of the beneficiary organisations.

WESN AM Prime

TTT NOW

Connect with us by clicking on the Splash!

E-invites and flyers were sent to Best Village groups, Community Councils, religious organisations, community groups and organisations, along with educational institutions. Community organisations received letters of invitation and flyers via the Ministries of Community Development and that of Youth Development and National Service.

The online community served as an incubator of inspiration to encourage members to share their own stories, creating connections and inspiring others to action. Impressions, the number of times that project content was displayed to users, grew by over 700% over the period, testament to the increasing brand visibility on the platforms.

Internal communiques to UWI Students and Staff were facilitated by Campus Marketing and Communications, the Division of Student Services and Development, and the Department of Social Work within the Faculty of Social Sciences.

As we continue to engage and grow our project community online, through the content that we will share, the social media platforms will continue to foster brand affinity and loyalty and create a welcoming, engaged environment for our youth.

Social Media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were used as strategic tools to engage and build community online. These platforms saw continued growth in their respective fan bases as well as engagement, with performance peaking in March and June.

Website: The Youth Speak UP project website was initially used to raise awareness and engage with potential applicants. It now serves to inform and educate while raising visibility for Project activities and its partners. It links to the project’s social media platforms. Project partners are encouraged to use their websites and social media accounts to amplify the messaging.

Overall, the platforms saw a 316% growth in engagement, noting that every active engagement brought users closer to the project.

www.youthspeakuptt.com

6

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Let’s Get #Social

Our social media insights tell the story of how we built and connected with our community online.

Know the #Social lingo!

• Impressions is the number of times that our content was displayed to users.

• Engagements is the number of times that users engaged with our posts during the reporting period.

• Post Link Clicks is the number of times that users clicked on links from your posts during the reporting period.

The overall performance demonstrates an upward trajectory of growth throughout the period on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Facebook demographics: (25 to 34-year-old women were the most engaged)

Twitter - best performing month

7

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

How it’s Going Learning Management System This Learning Management System provides participants, administrators, and facilitators with an integrated system for easy management and access of content. It draws participants to spaces where they could gain a greater understanding of the project and its objectives, as well as reinforce knowledge gained during training.

the face of diversity and help them to develop resilience and empathy.

Three cycles of the Knowledge and Information session were held, from May 8 to September 4, 2021. Each cycle contained 2 groups of approximately 30 persons.

Click for the facilitators and topics presented:

Approved users (password required) can access all presentations made during the Knowledge and Information Sessions along with resource materials, including for the ICT and Social Media training. Documentation of participants’ attendance and punctuality; assignments and additional resource material are available here.

Knowledge & Info Sessions

ICT and Social Media Sessions An introductory Computer Technology Literacy/ Social Media course and an intermediate, Social Media only, course were offered under the ICT and Social Media component. Training in the delivery of ICT and Social Media was given to 15 instructors and 35 mentors. Two curriculum specialists were brought on board and two syllabi completed. Each cycle runs for 12 weeks.

The first cycle ended October 31, 2021; Cycle 2 began on November 7.

Information and Knowledge Sessions Knowledge and information sessions are geared towards developing in participants an awareness of societal issues affecting them and their peers as well as their communities. The facilitators engaged were contracted to deliver content specific to their field of expertise to ensure adequate guidance to participants, field questions, and ensure a high-quality interactive experience. The intention is for this knowledge to empower participants, create understanding in

Click for topics presented: Syllabi Topics

8

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Knowledge and Information PLUS

Talent Show and Games Night

This component emerged from the Knowledge and Information session when participants themselves requested more information on selected areas. The first two sessions were:

Networking outside of the work stream helps build support when our young participants go off to execute their own projects. Advocates also need time off to relax and get involved in fun activities.

• 2-day Public Speaking Workshop attended by 30 students and facilitated by Mr Sean Samad and Ms Greer Hospedales of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, The UWI, St Augustine Campus. Participants indicated interest in an extended version which is usually a semester-long University cocurricular course. The Project Management team is in conversation with the University to explore possibilities. It will be repeated in Year 2.

It was in this context that participants staged their first talent show via Zoom on July 17, 2021.

Forty-seven youths attended and, for the first 35 minutes, four participants shared poetry, photography, and their musical talents. In the remaining 90 minutes, there were interactive virtual games and a Bingo.

• Strategic Planning session attended by 40 students and facilitated by Ms Prunella Mungroo, Consultant, Character Education Trainer and Youth Advocate. She conducted a 3 hour long session on October 27 and 30.

This will also be repeated in Year 2.

In the second year of the project the following topics will be covered - Issues around GenderBased Violence; Navigating the Labour market for job opportunities: What Youth should know; Team Building; Social Justice and Rights-based Advocacy; and Social Media for Advocacy.

Their interest in these capacity-building activities is encouraging and points to possible continuation beyond the project.

9

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Social Work Expertise and Support Three Practicum Students (see photos) from The UWI, St. Augustine Social Work Unit provided immense support during the period under review.

These students did check-ins and dealt with varying social issues affecting the participation of applicants that the project itself could not address. Participants were absent for a myriad of circumstances, such as difficulty with devices as well as other problems. One reported example was a participant who was held up at gun point and had his device stolen; others included participants who had COVID or whose family members were afflicted with the disease.

The project team was then able to re-schedule them to other cycles, as necessary.

Ishani Subran

Chervon Cupidore

Two of the Practicum students have since completed their stint. Their assistance was extremely beneficial, bringing value to programme content and value to participants.

These social work practicum students have advocated for an expanded programme based on the participants’ request for expanded conversations on topics of interest to them.

Chelsea King

s t n e d u t S m u c i t c a r the P

The Team will continue working with the Social Work Unit in Year 2. The third practicum student is currently providing outreach to participants and there are plans to accommodate additional practicum students to lend support throughout the life of the project. These graduate students will be supervised by the Head of the Unit, Dr Cheryl-Ann Boodram.

Consideration is being given to applying social work expertise and knowledge of the wider system to determine ways in which participants could be supported for meaningful participation.

10

SEASON 1

Year 1 Highlights .....................

EPISODES 1-12

Planned Components, Events, and Emerging Components Implemented 1. Knowledge and Information Sessions 12 topics, 10 facilitators. These sessions are housed on the LMS platform and include recordings of each session in each cycle, the names of facilitators, and topic descriptions.

World Youth Day

Dr Heather Cateau

2. Observance of World Youth Day 2021 on August 12.

• The Honourable Foster Cummings, Minister of Youth Development and National Service of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr Sanjin Soldatić

• Dr Heather Cateau, Acting Deputy Campus Principal, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus • Mr Sanjin Soldatić, Acting Head of Delegation.

Adinah Sandy Djennicia Francis

3. Attendance of 8 participants at the 2nd Biennial Caribbean Workers’ Forum.

September 15-18, 2021.

4. Staging of 2-day Public Speaking workshop, facilitated by Sean Samad and Greer Hospedales of UWI’s Faculty of Humanities and Education, October 23- 24.

Girisha Ramroopsingh Isaiah Thomas

5. Strategic Planning workshop, facilitated

by Consultant Prunella Mungroo, Character Education Trainer and Youth Advocate, October 27 and 30.

6. ICT and Social Media Training – Cycle 1 ended October 31, 2021.

Jewell Luke

Kareem Ryce Makesi Francis Sean Persaud

11

SEASON 1 EPISODES 1-12

Season 2

Here we come!

The Youth Speak UP project team and participants are looking forward to 2022.

In addition to the continuation of the Knowledge and Information PLUS sessions, the next main components are: 1. Leadership and Advocacy; 2. Community Engagement Projects A lot more is on the cards to ensure participants remain actively engaged and that Project objectives are achieved.

12