Port-of-Spain, January 18, 2024: Performing Artistes Akhenaton ‘Yung Bredda’ Lewis collaborated with the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) for the launch of ‘Talk d Tings’ community outreach initiative on Wednesday 17th January, 2024, at the Sea Lots Basketball Court, Production Ave, Port-of-Spain.
‘Talk d Tings’ is the latest project of the MYDNS and is developed to go into communities of focus to hear young people’s thoughts on relationships with particular focus on Self Awareness, Mental Health, Family Relationships, Conflict Resolution and more. After these sessions, the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service will engage partner agencies to offer additional support in community with relation to Family Planning, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Mental Health Support and more.
At Wednesday’s launch, the Honourable Foster Cummings, Ministry of Youth Development and National Service reaffirmed Government’s commitment to youth and encouraged them to be proactive, “Take advantage of the programmes offered to you. The Ministry is here to help you, hold your hand and prepare you for the future. We will run some of our programmes here at the Sea Lots Community Centre. But the first step to advance should come from you.”
Sea Lots resident and multi-genre artiste Yung Bredda also encouraged the youth in the community to make the best of the opportunities available, “Everybody has the ability to do something. Everybody has to get up and get it. The Ministry is here to show us the right way, so we need to take ourselves seriously as a community.”
Other speakers at the launch included the Honourable Adrian Leonce – Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Member of Parliament for Laventille East/Morvant; Mr. Keith Scotland – Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South; Mr. David Roberts – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport and Community Development and Mr. Ndale Young – Youth Development Co-ordinator, MYDNS.
‘Talk d Tings’ will take its place in the suite of MYDNS Programmes that are meant to positively impact the lives of young people and will start its official roll-out in March 2024.
Similar youth engagement programmes include:
- AMPLIFY – a training programme for persons interested in Music Production and Video Editing
- CRISP – an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Training Programme
- Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme (YAHP) – a two-year training programme that affords young people the opportunity to become successful 21st century agribusiness entrepreneurs. On successful completion, participants will receive land, a grant and a starter home
- The Youth Career, Education and Health Caravan – A Fair that focuses specifically on programmes and services available to young persons the age of 35.
The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service remains committed to bringing all key stakeholders together to promote youth development and encourage civic-minded citizens to contribute to national service across Trinidad and Tobago.
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