One programme aims to help youngsters grow their business, the other helps them grow as individuals
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO — The nation’s youth are set to benefit from two new programmes aimed at helping them become gainfully employed in agriculture and also become productive members of society as the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) has signed memoranda of understanding with the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (PETROTRIN) for programmes to do just that.
The Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme (YAHP) will help young Trinbagonians grow agriculture businesses, while the National Service Complex will help them grow into upstanding citizens.
A group of young business people sit in a row in a training class.
Commenting on the initiatives and their benefits, Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings noted, “Forty percent of our national population comprises young people between the ages of 10 and 35 years.
“The government of Trinidad and Tobago is dedicated to supporting our youth and helping them to realize their full potential.”
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young also promised to support the initiatives, stating, “Youth development and national service have a significant and important function in the development of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Both these programmes — the YAHP Chatham Dairy Farm and the National Service Complex — give hope to young people in a structured and productive manner.”
As such, he urged eligible youth to “please take these resources and make our vision a reality in the shortest possible time”.
Close-up on youth programmes
Delving into details on the new youth development initiatives, Minister Cummings said, “The Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme is one initiative that will afford our youth, between the ages of 18 and 35 years, the opportunity to become successful agribusiness entrepreneurs and to contribute to our sustainable development.
Trinidad & Tobago Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings.
“One of the goals of this programme is to make young people job creators and not job seekers.”
As for the National Service Complex initiative, Cummings added, “Government’s vision is to create a place where young people can fully participate in programmes and completely focus on their holistic development.
“It will encourage our youth to give back to their families, communities and nation through meaningful service.
“The National Service Complex will offer an environment that is conducive to the positive transformation of our youth, who will be enrolled in our dynamic cadre of voluntary programmes.”
In a statement, the MYDNS said it “remains committed to bringing all stakeholders together to promote youth development and encourages civic-minded citizens to contribute to national service across Trinidad and Tobago”.
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