TRINIDAD
CREATIVE PARENTING FOR THE NEW ERA
BACKGROUND
Creative Parenting for the New Era (CPNE) is an organization that came into
existence in Mid-2001 in response to resolutions of a conference retreat held in
Chaguaramas on October 27, 2000. The Conference entitled “Exploring Tools and
Skills for Innovative Parenting” was a project of a loosely formed alliance of the
Caribbean Conference of Churches, The Choices Network and Families In Action
that brought together representatives from several other organizations to consider the
issue of methodology in parenting education. These organizations shared a deep
concern for the escalating numbers of “at-risk” children in our society who have
succumbed to the ravages of poor parenting, neglect, abuse, addiction, prostitution
and crime in Trinidad and Tobago. The Conference recognized the need to develop an
informed approach to intervention among NGOs and CBOs that will support and
encourage parents and create safer and healthier communities on which family life
can be sustained and enhanced.
OBJECTIVES
The mission of the organization is to engage the national community in creatively
exploring; researching and sharing culturally appropriate tools and skills for parenting, in
Trinidad and Tobago, in the new era.
To bring together and to share ideas with a cadre of relevant persons interested in
contributing to the development of parenting skills nationally.
To develop, by consensus, a culturally relevant curriculum and methodology for
Creative Parenting in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
To train facilitators in the Creative Parenting Methodology.
To establish systems that disseminate, encourage and support creative parenting
practices.
To stimulate the development of family supports and networks in keeping with
the Creative Parenting philosophy.
To refine and document the evolving Creative Parenting Methodology
The program, Creative Parenting for the New Era, is based on the premise that each
parent knows his or her own child and is doing his or her best given the circumstances
and his or her own past experiences. Difficulties arise when parenting skills are
insufficient to cope with life situations and there is an absence of necessary community
support. In these circumstances parents or caregivers tend to resort to outdated and
inappropriate methods of relating to and disciplining their children. This results in
negative outcomes and causes a lack of confidence and regret among parents. Lack of
appropriate skill leads to an inability to communicate across generations and this in turn
causes children to look elsewhere for love, leadership and guidance.
SPECIFIC GOALS
CPNE intends to train 75 more facilitators in three cycles over the period April
2003 to March 2004.
CPNE will focus on sharing the skills with parents and potential parents through
close collaboration with the National PTA executive at a regional level.
CPNE will focus on young people in order to enable them to become catalysts for
social change through their direct and enhanced participation in curriculum
design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
PROJECT FOCUS
CPNE as the organization mandated to implement the identified agenda designed a
Training of Trainers Parenting Program that was informed by research conducted with
stakeholders in NGOs, CBOs, schools and among artistes in the community.
TARGET POPULATION
Trainers and leaders of NGOs were the prime target of the first phase of CPNE’S training
since they were strategically positioned to influence the program content and
methodology of their various organizations.
METHODOLOGY
CPNE evolved an approach to training that is people-centered, culturally relevant,
participatory, and tapped into the wisdom of the group. Holistic, flexible, experimental in
style, and guided by best practices evolved locally and abroad, the program was subjected
to constant evaluation and review and found by participants to be empowering.
FUNDING 2002
CPNE received funding from J B Memorial Trust I to implement strategies recommended
by participants at the Chaguaramas Conference aimed at:
Engaging NGOs in sharing their experiences and parenting models
Strengthening the capacities of NGOs and community leaders, social workers,
counselors and psychologists to respond in a relevant way to the emerging
demands of families in the society.
Developing and sharing a culturally relevant approach to parenting education in
Trinidad and Tobago
Strengthening networks among NGOs
Establishing parenting support systems in the community
ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the past 13 months CPNE has done the following:
Conducted research among stakeholders:
-NGO/Artistes/Children/Other
Designed a curriculum in response to our current understanding of issues.
Developed a Facilitators Manual and disseminated it to 100 participants of the
training programs.
Identified and oriented a cadre of relevant specialist to deliver the curriculum.
Provided scholarships to 100 nominees from 44 NGOs and other organizations.
Hosted four cycles of intensive training with participants from various
communities across Trinidad – each cycle consisting of 14 days or 126 contact
hours over a 3-month period.
Evaluated the programs delivered and adapted the curriculum accordingly.
Documented the entire process used, which was innovative and culturally
relevant.
Provided guidance to trainees in their design of parenting support programs for
their specific communities.
THE TRAINEES REACHED
An analysis of trainees by occupation revealed the diverse occupations they represent
from school principals, teachers, peer educators, counselors to administrators, nurses,
police officers and housewives.
OUTCOME OF TRAINING
Participants to CPNE’S Train-the-Trainers Parenting Programs now espouse a common
vision for family and community empowerment. They have built upon their existing
strengths and become conscious of their enormous potential as facilitators at community
level.
Many have experienced personal healing and improved personal relationships with their
children and students. They have learnt techniques to deal with their own anger and
managing situations of conflict. They have revamped and enhanced their organization’s
training programs and methodology and provided feedback on the positive outcomes of
their efforts.
Trainees have formed bonds of friendship across organizations and are collaborating at
community level, thereby forming networks of mutual support.
CPNE’S FUTURE PLANS
CPNE is now in Phase II of its operations during which operations are focused on the
following:
Providing technical support to trainees to enable them to implement parenting
programs in their specific communities.
Providing specific guidance in project planning and proposal preparation to
enable groups to access resources to deliver programs at community level.
Reaching out to Tobago and other NGOs that have not yet had the benefit of
CPNE’S training.
Sharing the training methodology developed to the wider society through a
conference entitled “Parenting our Future” carded for October 1-3, 2003.
OTHER PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
Toco Foundation
The Indian Women’s Organization
The Soroptomist Club International of Tobago
The YMCA
Eternal Light Community
National Family Services Unit
Caribbean Union Conference of SDA
Bagatelle Village Council Women’s Group
Re-evaluation Counseling Community
TOCO FOUNDATION
BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
The genesis of the Toco Foundation lay in the commitment of its founding members to
find sustainable ways of alleviating the poverty and social inequalities in the region. Its
goal is to provide an economically stable and culturally rich environment for all members
of the community by developing the existing resources of the area - both natural and
human. Since its creation in 1991, the Foundation's activities have been directed towards
community empowerment in areas such as:
Creating sustainable livelihoods for members of the community.
Providing opportunities for individual and collective social advancement.
Protecting and promoting the rich biodiversity of northeastern Trinidad.
The Foundation is a non-governmental organization (NGO), which currently employs 55
people. It works with government agencies in pursuit of its objectives and to ensure that
these have an appreciation of its needs. It offers a wide range of integrated programs that
promote multiculturalism, education, human development, and the arts. It is an important
force in community development project through its youth development,
entrepreneurship, skills training, and eco-tourism.
The Foundation also welcomes opportunities to collaborate and interact with like-minded
community-based or charitable organizations. An excellent example of this type of
multilateral co-operation was the highly successful October 1998 Toco Convocation
which brought together some 300 representatives from Government, UN agencies,
community-based and cultural organizations, with a view to consolidating the concept of
community empowerment. The Foundation's initiatives have attracted worldwide
attention with groups from the Caribbean, USA, Europe and elsewhere visiting the
Foundation for training or informal discussions.
MISSION STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
Vision Statement:
Creating an environment where people can develop themselves and their community by
becoming economically stable, feeling a sense of pride an accomplishment, valuing the
natural and human resource of the North Eastern region of Trinidad and Tobago and the
rest of the country.
Mission Statement
The Toco Foundation seeks to influence the communities it serves by providing
comprehensive educational services in the area of literacy, computer science,
communications and health. We provide a range of personal development services;
sector focused economic development and environmental preservation programming.
We seek to partner with all aspects of our wider community and utilize the sharing of
knowledge and the modeling of discipline and unity to achieve our broader vision of
total, sustainable community development and environmental stewardship, for the North
East region of Trinidad.
The Toco Foundation is structured through the mechanism of Management Committee,
comprising leaders and managers of its various projects; regular business sessions of
project coordinators, facilitators and participants; community based meetings and an
annual Council meeting of its members and activists. Responsibilities for managing the
administration and projects are distributed accordingly. Participants and beneficiaries are
always involved in the decision making process.
The Toco Foundation is a Community Based NGO working through proven project
methodologies reflecting the needs for the community as well as their aspiration.
It has a catalogue of achievements based on participatory methods and has continued to
be identified as a primary source of social action in the community through the
empowerment of individuals, families and groups. It has continued to partner and
dialogue with civil society, public sector and private sector, as well as well known
national regional and international agencies to accomplish its mission and fortify its
vision on empowering grass root people.
Through their business sessions internally, and their community based meetings in
general involving continued consultations and agreements, their programs of project
oriented mechanisms continue to work through a recognized organic approach of power
from below. That is, down up beneficiary focus, a proven module using leadership
development tools and participation by activist and beneficiaries.
Through the Toco Foundation's holistic and integrated activities crime statistics is the
lowest in the country. In addition for example according to CAREC'S AIDS study in the
country, the data reveals that HIV infections are the lowest in the targeted area under our
supervision through the activity of Commonwealth Award winning Toco Youth and
Sexuality Project. Many other assessments can be quantified including the fact that the
Toco Foundation is the single largest employer of individuals in the Toco region outside
the Ministry of Education.
OVERALL GOAL
To improve human development through community empowerment.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To develop informed, healthy and responsible sexual lifestyles of young people
To stimulate awareness, provide information and facilitate community dialogue
To provide a supportive environment for youth and gender development
To provide skills in modern information systems to enhance capacity for future
living
Preserve existing Eco systems and bio diversity
Engage in sustainable enterprises to enhance human development in the study
area.
THE ACHIEVEMENTS
Toco Foundation's Basic History
1991 - Discussion groups at the community level
1994 - Formation organized around projects based on rural community
needs.
Established the following projects in collaboration:
1996 - Enterprise - Eco Tourist Project
1997 - Communication program – Radio Toco 106.7 FM - the first
community station in the nation; Toco Talk; Eastern Voice
Newspaper
1996 - Agriculture - Young Farmers Project
1998 - Social Awareness ; HIV/AIDS /STDs – Toco Youth and
Sexuality Project
1998 -Biodiversity Conservation Program; Turtle/ Wildlife Protection – Toco
Turtle Protection Program
1999 - Computer Training – Distance Learning Center
2001 - Human Health - Parenting Programs; HIV/AIDS /STDs
FUNDING SUPPORT
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) – GEF/Small Grants Program -
Eco – Tourism)
UNDP/UNESCO - Radio Station
Canadian High Commission - Training for women
Netherlands Embassy - Training for Radio Station
Bernard Van Leer Foundation – Parenting
Caribbean Support Initiative (CSI) – Training (Community Radio Broadcasters
Workshop)
UNAIDS/CAREC/GTZ; PAHO -(Public health awareness and prevention
HIV/AIDS/STDs)
J.B Fernandes Memorial Trust - Public Education; Leadership; Administrative;
Capacity Building
German Embassy - Project Funding
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) – (Women Project and Farmers
Project)
ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE
Lands leased for building purposes
-Victoria Pritchard Resource Center - Galera Road, Toco
-Young Farmers Project/ Eco Lodge - Anglasie Road Cumana
ASSISTANCE FROM STATE AGENCIES
Community Development Fund
Self Help Commission
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs
Distance Learning Secretariat
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation
Tourism and Industrial Development Company (TIDCO)
MAINLY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES
Non Governmental Organizations Support for Training
Environment
Point–a–Pierre Wild Fowl Trust
Caribbean Forestry Conversation Association (CFCA)
Asa Wright Center
RARE
Gender and Social Development
Women's Federation
Child Welfare League
Choices 11 Program
Women Working for Social Progress
NADAPP
NETWORKING
Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL)
In turn practiced with all regional and community based organizations
Recognition and Prizes
Won several International, Regional and National awards including:
Commonwealth 1st Prize - for community action in the fight against HIV/
AIDS.
PAHO's 1st prize – Regional Health journalism / media
Community Development 2nd Prize
EMA's Green Leaf Award
UN AIDS Best Practice, among others.
IMPACT
Through their radio station – Radio Toco 106.7 FM they reach on a daily basis
thousands of people with programs on HIV/AIDS; Parenting; Farmers Action;
Enterprise Development; Gender Issues and of course, Culture.
Have reached all schools; churches; village councils and other groups in their
awareness and prevention program against HIV/AIDS and other STDs. They
have developed a 'Best Practice now adopted at the national level. (Current)
Trained hundreds of women in Food Preservation; Handicraft Development;
Business Management through the University of the West Indies, CARIRI; Small
Business Development Company and other institutions over a three (3) year
period.
Trained dozens of youths in Environmental Protection and Conservations as Tour
Guides; Litter Wardens; Game Wardens (wildlife conservations); Life Guards etc.
Graduated approximately five hundred and sixty (560) children 5 – 16 years in
basic Computer Literacy skills, within a three-year period and on going.
Trained over a hundred farmers in plant management, budding and grafting;
pesticide use; marketing and Grow Box methodologies in a year period. (Current)
Trained dozens of women and youths in Enterprise Development skills, through
Small Business Development Company setting up good human practices and
micro enterprises in the community whilst setting up micro credit schemes
through a UNDP loan (current) to build community empowerment at the
grassroots levels
CARIBBEAN SUPPORT INITIATIVE (CSI)
Because of CSI’S interest in working with community Radio Stations as part of the
development process: CSI in collaboration with UNESCO and Radio Toco 106.7FM, a
Project of the Toco Foundation, hosted a Regional media Parenting Conference in
November 2002. The Conference was a first phase in developing regional projects geared
towards building capacity and knowledge around Parenting and Early Childhood
Development through community involvement using the Radio as a medium. Currently
Toco is collaborating with CSI to fund the production of a video on the Toco Youth and
Sexuality Project of the Toco Foundation
Please note: Community newspaper Toco Talk/Eastern Voice - has been suspended
due to funding requirements
SERVOL
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
In the initial stages, the people were very skeptical about the intervention in
their lives by these well-meaning strangers, but when they realized that the
strangers were very serious in their desire to help people to help themselves they
began to co-operate with SERVOL.
SERVOL is a voluntary organization, which has germinated and flowered in a
Third World country. The name SERVOL stands for Service Volunteered for All.
The organization started in 1970 in Trinidad as a consequence of civil disorder.
This was the so-called Black Power Uprising when people from the shanty towns
of the capital, Port of Spain, and a number of army officers began by protesting
the social conditions of the poor and ended by attempting to overthrow the
government. The attempt failed but the event had an electrifying effect on the
hitherto easygoing society of Trinidad and Tobago. One of the consequences was
that a Roman Catholic priest called Gerard Pantin gave up his job teaching
science at one of the best science schools in the country and decided to try to help
the people with their problems.
SERVOL is so many things at the same time:
A non-governmental organization, which doubles as an agent for the Ministry
of Education in implementing two large national programs;
An organization, which concentrates its efforts on non-formal education but
which brings a very definite structure into its projects;
A group of over one hundred (100) people who are all committed to sensitive
listening to any individual in trouble but which prides itself on efficiency and
effectiveness;
A movement which glorifies in its pragmatism and spontaneity but which has
a carefully formulated operational plan for the next twenty (20) years;
A deeply religious organization, which politely avoids all Church institutions.
Having laid the groundwork, SERVOL'S aim now is not simply to work for the
underprivileged but to get the underprivileged to work for themselves, to get them
out of the stagnation they are in and to help them formulate goals they could
realize.
SERVOL is interested in the self-development of people. It is not a welfare
organization nor does it see its explicit task as being the mass transformation of
society or the alleviating of the many problems of the poor.
Rather it sees itself as a small but important catalyst for social change which
Caribbean society desperately needs. In working with people in all their many and
various projects, SERVOL is also searching for new models for development,
which are capable of being taken up by bigger organizations and implemented on
a large scale.
In doing this, two general principles are used: firstly, in helping a community
towards self-development, always begin with what the people say they want.
Secondly, help the people to achieve and accomplish only what they can afford to
pay for, thus care was taken not to set up elaborate projects which were largely
subsidized by outside finance. These might look very impressive but in reality
have little to do with true development.
SERVOL'S PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH
There is the insistence that the only valid way to make a contribution to society or
to interfere in the lives of people is through a process, which they call respectful
intervention. This implies that no matter how convinced we are that our ideas are
right, we must put aside cultural arrogance, which tends to make us feel that we
have a monopoly on truth and we must proceed to dialogue with the world around
us.
A sign to SERVOL being faithful to the process of respectful intervention is that
they are prepared to listen attentively to those whose ideas are different from
theirs. It is out of this listening and the subsequent dialogue that genuinely human
solutions will be found.
Despite the importance of environmental concerns and real development of
communities, SERVOL has categorically declared that its major concern is with
the children of this world. SERVOL focuses their attention on two age groups:
the 0-5 year olds through early childhood programs and the 16-19 year olds
through specially designed adolescent programs.
They use early childhood centers as centers of education for the parents as much
as for the children ensuring that adults, who assume that they know what is good
for the child, will not stifle the creativity and spontaneity of children. Respectful
intervention must be applied to newly born babies, 1-2 year olds, since each child
is an individual, which sends out its own specific signals, which must be listened
to carefully.
PROGRAMS COMPONENTS/SERVICES
SERVOL has the unique experience of administering two nationwide programs
financed by the Ministry of Education: an early Childhood Education Program
(ECEP) and an Adolescent Development Program (ADP). Because of this the
organization has been able to observe what happens to a cross section of some
6000 children who pass through the 151 early childhood centers, disappear into
the formal system of education and emerge eleven or twelve years later to enter
SERVOL’S ADP. Thus SERVOL is in a position to assess the effect of its ECEP
using the emergent adolescent as a bench-mark.
Parenting: SERVOL programs are community-based and are directed through an
Early Childhood Program (ECEP) which include: nursery schools and a training
center for children 2 to 5 years old; an Adolescent Development Program (ADP)
designed for disadvantaged youth.
The ADP is a six to eight month program, which comprises a skills training
component, and fourteen-week course designed to help teenagers develop positive
attitudes and become more self-sufficient. The course offers training in
spirituality, parenting, conflict management, health and family related issues. All
adolescents enrolled in the program are provided with theoretical information and
practical experience in parenting. The latter is carried out in the nursery schools
attached to SERVOL where adolescents actually perform daily task with the
children.
Within their Adolescent Parent Program, adolescents are trained how to be
parents. This is done by special courses designed to make the adolescents aware
of the damage done to them by disrespectful intervention of adults and teachers.
They are urged to get in touch with their hidden anger and to ensure that this
anger is not displaced on other objects. There is then the appeal for them not to
make the same mistakes with their children as their parents made with them.
At present, SERVOL administers 153 early childhood centers for over 5,000 two
to five year old children and 40 adolescent training centers for 3,000 adolescents
in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, they are training teachers and instructors for
Ministries of Education in eleven (11) Caribbean islands. In addition, they are
presently witnessing the first attempt to insert their programs into the formal
system of education.
Peer Counseling: is a critical part of the adolescent program, peer sharing/helping
is done within the confines of the Center and not in the wider community. Peers
also organize support groups for students to discuss issues and concerns in a safe
environment. There are over 40 adolescent centers in Trinidad that reaches out to
over 3,000 adolescents a year.
SERVOL has also launched a Parent Outreach Program (POP) to reach parents of
children ages 0-5 years, who are unable to send their children to school. This
program, which uses the family support concept, provides parents with child
rearing strategies and marketable skills while addressing their personal needs
through home visits.
One very important aspect of this program is the establishment of support groups
for these parents. Topics include child rearing, parenting, child development and
skills training.
Target Group/Staff: the ADP reaches out to deprived adolescents, while POP
targets at risk children 0-5 years old and their parents. These disadvantaged
parents are unable to send their children to nursery school, and tend to avoid
structured programs. The program is conducted by trained teachers/facilitators
and monitored by a coordinator on a weekly basis.
THE SERVOL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
The ECEP curriculum, which was developed by SERVOL is referred to by the
acronym SPICES in that it challenges the teacher to help the children develop
socially, physically, intellectually, creatively, emotionally and spiritually.
Through this syllabus, a valiant attempt is made to combat the current tendency to
pressure the small children to read, write and count at the earliest possible age.
The general objective is to protect the spontaneity and creativity of small children
and to allow them to be as free as possible during those early, critical years. Their
conviction is that even though rigid and unintelligent primary and secondary
schooling may dent or temporarily suppress this self-esteem, the latter will never
be destroyed.
FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTE – (FWI)
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
Trinidad and Tobago’s Federation of Women’s Institute’s mission is to improve the
quality of life of women and their children. It was organized in 1946 and became
incorporated in 1977. With the motto “Gladly We Learn, Gladly We Teach”, the
objective of the Federation is to empower women in every community in Trinidad and
Tobago. The objective was that women might improve their education, enhance their
social skills and significantly alter their economic status through the production and
marketing of food and craft items. The Federation’s structure is such that women in every
village of Trinidad and Tobago can benefit from membership. Courses aimed at
improving the quality of the lives of women and their families are organized for rural
women in the fields of agriculture, food preparation and preservation, literacy, handicraft
and home crafts, child care, geriatric nursing and home care.
The Federation also encourages women’s participation in the development of community
based groups and organizations and therefore stimulates them to participate at the
political and grassroots level.
During the forty years of its existence, the FWI has engaged in a range of educational and
socio-economic development activities with the aim to improve the quality of life of
women and their families. Initially, the Federation sought to make an impact in some of
the more traditional areas for intervention with women at the community level – home
economics, wood and metal craft, agricultural extension, educational lectures and drama.
More recently, it began to consider pressing issues around youth and children for
remedial action, e.g. teenage pregnancy, domestic abuse, drug addiction, illiteracy and
school dropouts. The Federation works with women to improve their education, enhance
social skills and significantly alter their economic status through the production and
marketing of food and craft items.
Recognizing that “livelihood” has a significant impact on family life, the Federation has
begun to include men in its program on parenting and reducing domestic and community
violence. The Federation also accommodates an early childhood center and a computer
training and resource center.
SERVICES OFFERED
Board and Lodge: Facilities are available to community groups and sporting
organizations, which includes sleeping quarters and conference facilities.
Community Outreach:
• Medical Clinic
• Library Services
• Workshop/Lectures
• Religious Services
• Meeting Places
• Dance/Drama Facilities
Skill Training:
• Home Management
• Handicraft
• Home Furnishings
• Garment Construction
• Agriculture
• Geriatric Nursing
• Food Preservation/Preparation
• Small Appliance Repairs
• Tailoring
• Hair and Beauty Culture
Relief Center:
• Feeding
• Counselling
• Micro Entrepreneurship
• Clothing Distribution
• Skills Training
Education:
• 12+ schools (5)
• Distance Learning
• Adult Education
• TEPP-skills Training
• Early Childhood Center
• Computer Literacy
• Library
FUNDING PARTNERS
Bernard Van Leer Foundation
JB Fernandes Trust
Canadian Embassy
Gender Equity Fund
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education
Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs
(SAIL) Sailors assisting in Learning
NETWORKING PARTNERS
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education
Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs
Rape Crisis Center
CHOICES
Creative Parenting For The New Era
RELATIONSHIP WITH BERNARD VAN LEER FOUNDATION
1997-2000 – 3 years grant to assist with running of Learning Centers
2001 – Assistance with Pilot Project in Caroni and Nariav/Mayaro
2002 – Financial assistance for 4 members to visit the Roving Care Givers in Jamaica
PROJECTIONS
Project Proposals being prepared as a follow up of visit to Jamaica.
Planned institutional strengthening project through assistance from Gender Equity Fund.
JB FERNANDES MEMORIAL TRUST
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
The JB Fernandes Trust began grant-making operation in 1997, with the mission of
alleviating poverty, improving health and education in Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal,
Madeira and Portuguese communities in North America. Towards the goal of advancing
the self-sufficiency and independence of low-income individuals and families, the Trust
favors direct service strategies that help people to acquire the means to become
financially and personally independent.
Believing that successful efforts reflect the needs and strengths of the people that they
serve, the Trust prefers to support community-based organizations, non-governmental
organizations and religious organizations that demonstrate tangible results. Towards this
end, the Trust favors programs focusing on the following:
Poverty alleviation:
• Promote job creation strategies for low income families in urban and rural
communities
o Enterprise development;
o Comprehensive community development;
• Strengthen the capacity of programs, family homes and orphanages for
abused, abandoned and underprivileged children
o Youth outreach programs
Education:
• Improve education opportunities for children, youths and adults
o `Early childhood education and care;
o Teacher training programs;
o Scholarship and other financial assistance programs; and
o Tutoring and vocational education programs
Health:
• Improve the quality and accessibility to basic health education and treatment
o Programs that improve parenting skills;
o Reproductive health, guidance, counseling and care to create a more
supportive environment;
o HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs);
o Counseling and peer network programs;
o Domestic violence programs
o Substance abuse programs; and
o Medical treatment programs, medication and medical supplies
The Trust will supports strategies that strengthen and stabilize individuals and families,
particularly those that can demonstrate:
Gains in marketable, transferable skills through advanced education and training;
Increased or sustained independence of people living with adversity, e.g. chronic
illnesses or severs disabilities;
Prevention of homelessness or help for formerly homeless people with achieving
stability and independence; and/or
Other indicators of movement towards self-sufficiency
In addition, the Trust supports organizations that provide technical assistance to
practitioners in the Trust’s areas of interest. Preference is given to technical assistance
providers that build management and program capacity, particularly those that help
organizations design and implement effective programs.
The Trust gives priority to organizations and programs that:
Have tangible impact, address in a comprehensive manner the fundamental issues
within their areas of interest, and bring a high level of leadership, competence,
management, and strategic planning to these issues;
Are committed to accountability, including examining the lasting impact of their
efforts;
Demonstrate a commitment to having staff and board leadership that reflects the
communities that they serve;
Demonstrate fiscal integrity, including the performance of independent audits;
and have strong levels of funding from other private funders.
Support from the Trust can be requested for:
General operations;
Organizational capacity building, including efforts to strengthen administrative
and fiscal management practices;
Specific program or projects;
Scholarships; and
Program related investments
JB Fernandes and CSI exchange ideas and experiences and engage in
regular dialogue on programme activities for Trinidad.
BANYAN
Since 1974, Banyan has distinguished itself as a producer of innovative and entertaining
programs, which aim at the same time to inform and reflect Caribbean people and culture.
This mixture of entertainment and social comment has often been called 'Calypso
television'.
In 1977 Banyan produced the anglophone Caribbean's first 'soap opera', a 13 part drama
series on family life. This was followed by other drama series and documentaries.
In 1978 Banyan was instrumental in setting up, with a group of secondary schools, the
nation's first education television production unit producing a series of popular
educational programs for airing on national television during 1978 and 1979. In 1980 the
unit was absorbed into the Ministry of Education, became the Education television Unit
and is now the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Center.
Banyan has trained video units throughout the region and has pioneered regional co-
productions since the early 1980s. In 1988 Banyan’s landmark series Caribbean Eye, a
13 part series of ½ hour programs on Caribbean culture won numerous international and
regional prizes. Co-productions outside the region have been done with Brazil, Ghana,
India, United States and Canada.
Beginning with its award in 1980 at the Commonwealth Film and Television Festival for
its "convincing use of low budget video to reflect community life" in its production
Village To Best Village, Banyan has won dozens of prizes both locally and internationally
for its productions. At the Caribbean Film and Video festival Images Caraibes in
Martinique in 1992 Banyan won two awards for its production for the BBC of And the
Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, a documentary about the impact of US television on
Caribbean self reliance. Dish has since gone on to win the award for best documentary in
the “Prized Pieces” competition of The National Black Programmers Consortium of the
USA. In 1996 Banyan was awarded Best documentary and Best current Affairs Program
at the Annual media Awards for Excellence in Trinidad & Tobago, in 1997 Banyan’s The
Music of the Street, won Best Caribbean Children’s Program at the Merit Awards of the
Caribbean Broadcasting Union and in 1998 After One Time is Two Time, a public
information drama on AIDS in the workplace won both the national and regional prize
for best television program in the PAHO Media Awards. In 2001 A Community In
Danger, a film about lead pollution in a squatter community, won the PAHO media
Award both Nationally and Regionally for best television feature and also the Sandals
Eco-Journalism award for best television program in the Caribbean.
While maintaining and developing links with its community through co-productions with
cultural organizations, trades unions, and community organizations, Banyan works
internationally to have the region seen through the eyes of the Caribbean, producing on
international standard video and film, for the world market.
Banyan worked closely with CSI in the production of 3 video documentations
looking at innovations in parenting and ECD in the Caribbean.