MYDNSMYDNSThe Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS), in an effort to positively influence our diverse 468,000-member youth population, will be guided by the National Youth Policy (2020-2025), which focuses on the empowerment and strategic engagement of our youth, as co-creators of sustainable development initiatives.
The Youth Policy was developed and bolstered on the following (8) strategic priorities for youth development:
The Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme (GAPP) is an intensive short-term intergenerational training programme, which aims to inculcate discipline, impart knowledge and promote a sense of caring for the elderly among cohorts between the ages of 17 – 35. GAPP responds to and addresses the growing and complex needs of Trinidad and Tobago’s ageing population through the provision of geriatric care and companionship services.
As a partnership programme, GAPP facilitates in the development of strong, social ties between elderly and adolescent groups. As participants of the Programme, young person’s provide companionship and geriatric care services in exchange for mentorship and other opportunities for their intrapersonal development.
The Programme seeks to:
Mission Statement:
To sensitize young men and women to the aging process and prepare them, through training and field visits, to develop practical skills and values toward professional approach to work.
The GAPP Training Programme comprises three (3) levels: Level I and Level II Training; and an Internship Programme. These two (2) training levels are made up of three components, namely Classroom sessions, Assessments and Institutional and Private Home Placement supervision and monitoring. The internship level or placement services is where a graduate of the training programme is placed in the private home of an elderly person where they will be continuously supervised, monitored and evaluated.
Level I: Target 17-30 years
Structure: 16-week programme (80 days). Session comprise Lectures, demonstrations and role playing. Subject Areas: Nutrition and Home Management, Nursing Aide Skills and Health Promotion, Life Skills, Literacy and Numeracy. Elective Sessions include: Fit for Life Motivational Lectures, Financial Management, Parenting and Guest lectures. Practicum: Private Home Placement.
Level II: Target 18 -35 years
Structure: 18-week programme (90 days). Session comprise Lectures, demonstrations and role playing and a two-week practicum (on-the-job training) where trainees are placed in private homes and institutions and continually supervised, assessed and monitored. Trainees will participate in a comprehensive range of Electives sessions, which are provided based on the current prevailing trends and needs of elderly.
Selection Process:
Services provided to the elderly are:
Who Qualifies?
The Programme offers a stipend of sixty dollars ($60.00) per day for Level 1 and ($70.00) per day for Level 2, with a five (5) days training week to all participants, for each day attended.
Internship Programme / Placement Services
Graduates of the Level II Training Programme are matriculated into an Internship Programme (final level of the GAPP). Upon successful completion of the taught training, the trainee will be engaged in a two (2) year Internship Programme. At this level of the graduates are assigned as Caregivers at elderly clients homes where their competency in geriatric care will be enhanced. The interns, are now supervised by the Regional Coordinators and Field Assessment Officers. Elderly national assisting the graduates through their internship process by apply for Caregivers at the Regional Offices. The programme a stipend of $3,200.00 per month pro rata to Caregivers who to are assign to an elderly client.
For more information, please contact:
Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme Administrative Office
ABMA Building
55 – 57 St Vincent Street, Port of Spain
623-2608 ext. 1281 – 1286
Anton.Reyes@gov.tt
Attachments:
The Retiree Adolescent Partnership Programme (RAPP) is a community-oriented programme which utilizes the skills and expertise of retired persons, in addition to other suitable members of the community, to provide support, mentorship and supervision for youth.
The RAPP intervention is holistic in its approach and designed to enhance the academic, cultural, life-skills and sporting capacities of young persons, ages 9 to 21 years, through interactive, participatory and divergent methods of teaching and learning.
Participants are selected through recommendations from schools, members of the community and/or parents. Priority is given to “at-risk” youth who are low academic performers, lack parental guidance and support and/or after-school supervision.
Currently, there are five (5) centres functioning in the following areas: Belmont, Couva, Laventille, La Horquetta and Valencia.
Centre locations and contact information are as follows:
Click here for more information on RAPP.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago in its recognition that a significant number of youth between the ages of fourteen (14) to thirty (30) years are “Youth at Risk”, and in need of social intervention strategy/mechanisms, have set out to transform and engender in them –
An understanding of the value and benefits of giving back to communities through selfless service;
An understanding of the value of instruction and acceptance of personal responsibility to enable their attainment of a full certificates of secondary education; and
training, development and certification to employable standards, their craft, artisan, artistic and entrepreneurial skills, while inculcating in them via prolonged exposure to a quasi-military environment, a sense of social respect for authority.
In this regard, the Government has agreed to the continuation of the existing, and the implementation of an additional voluntary specialised military-led youth Programme. This Programme collectively, are known under the umbrella name of the Specialised Youth Service Programmes (SYSP) and fall under the auspices of the Ministry of National oaf Security and for management by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, presently engaged in advancing their process of implementation.
SYSP is therefore the name given to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force’s unified umbrella organisation responsible for the management of the two (2) Specialised Youth Service Programmes, with the term “Specialised” referring to the military-based nature of the programmes:
Visit sysp.mydns.gov.tt for more info.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established in 1993, to positively develop the attitudes and behaviours of unemployed and socially-marginalized youths between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The Programme offered by the CCC, which is accredited by the Ministry of Education, runs for a period of 6 months at no cost to participants. The training engenders a spirit of national pride that improves the civic-mindedness of participants, who then transition to the world of work.
Visit ccc.mydns.gov.tt for more info.
The MILAT Programme inculcates positive behaviour modification of students whilst they pursue Academic development in a quasi-military environment. The Programme produces individuals who are well-adjusted, disciplined and responsible, and who possess positive social values and attitudes. These newly acquired traits are complemented with a full Certificate from the Caribbean Examination Council and elective skills that enable participants to pursue higher levels of education and training.
Visit milat.mydns.gov.tt for more information.
MYPART is geared toward providing a safe structured and regulated environment in which training, certification and most critically, positive character development can occur.
The MYPART Programme is a 3-year residential one that involves both vocational and military training in three (3) areas: Induction; Academic & Pre-Technical Vocational Training and Specialised Study.
On successful completion, the Cadet leaves the programme as a Certified Graduate (in his specialized skill area) and a more disciplined individual, having been exposed to areas of personal development, leadership, teamwork and responsibility.
MYPART seeks to address the increasing despondency of youth from diverse backgrounds who are often referred to as “At Risk Youth”. The programme acts as a form of social intervention and produces disciplined and skilled individuals who can make meaningful contributions to society.
Click here for more information on the MYPART programme.
Transitions Homes offer supportive services to young men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 years, who on leaving Children’s Homes, are empowered through practical skills development that ensure both their basic and special needs are met, in preparation for reintegration into society.