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WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2022: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Using a grant of TT$150,000 from the Digicel Foundation, the Charlotteville Police Youth Club transformed an old Government building in the community into a new Youth Skills Centre within 8 weeks.
The group unveiled the upgrades to the space on May 1st. The initial space was given to the community youth group by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the funding received from the Foundation was used to develop a conference room, a youth space for meetings and fellowship, a canteen and kitchen for culinary arts, an entrepreneurship hub for barbering and hair dressing, a computer lab, and an office space.
The services at the space will be free to all youth but adults will be charged a small fee as the group continues to build out their sustainability plan. Tutors are also being utilised to train youth in different skills while other small business owners can rent the central space at a reasonable cost. The Charlotteville Police Youth Club is also considering retailing Ferry tickets at the youth hub, for residents who live in the village and those further East.
Attending the event and speaking on behalf of the Digicel Foundation was Operations Manager, Cindyann Currency who congratulated the group on finishing the project within budget and on schedule. She said, “This type of early intervention thinking where our youth is concerned is just what we expect from our community partnerships. This investment in youth development goes hand in hand with our global mandate that encourages collaborations that provide opportunities for those most at risk.” Ms. Currency closed off by awarding the group 12 months’ free high speed broadband internet service courtesy of Digicel Plus, to run the internet café.
Also present at the milestone event was Area Representative and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs – Ayanna Webster Roy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ag.) – Collis Hazel, and Assistant Superintendent who is also in charge of Police Youth Clubs– Subhas Ramkellawan.
The Digicel Foundation has invested TT$450,000 in four community projects in Tobago this year as part of its EPIC programme. EPIC was launched in 2016 – to date the Foundation has invested TT$4.5 million in 120 EPIC projects impacting over 56,000 persons in Trinidad and Tobago.
