Good work in danger

Recently it is alleged that a 15-year-old was beaten by his peers in the Croisee, for no apparent reason. Then I heard that there was a fight at Curepe Junior Secondary. Cell phones are being taken, and many children are being bullied by other classmates.

There is gang warfare in schools, morning shift against evening shift, and the violence seems to be escalating, not only in our secondary schools but also in our primary schools. The politically-labelled East-West Corridor is losing its sons and daughters to fear, hopelessness and aggression. One young man said that many young people have to get guns to protect themselves. This is scary. We continue as if everything is “smooth sailing.” According to our President, “Youth, stolen from the young,” and “Our youth are liming too much.” Maybe he can intervene in this really urgent situation.

The Student Support Services which was set up by the Ministry of Education is overwhelmed. When requests are made of them to work with a child or teenager, the complaint is always there is limited staff. From Laventille to Mayaro there are many young people in need of help and there are no services. The Soroptimist Club had two homework centres in Port-of-Spain and Mt Hope, then, there was an initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Student Support Services to develop a Culture of Peace, through the institution of Project Peace. These agencies partnered with the Soroptimist Club. The Mt Hope Centre has an attendance of 60 young people on both the morning and evening shift. The Arouca Centre which catered for an after school study group started with six and within two weeks there were 25 names registered. Parents are really happy for these programmes which assist their children with homework and remedial work.

Community centres and spaces provided by community-minded citizens were used. A minimal rent is paid for the upkeep, and stipends are given to staff. Reports state that grades go up and the general well-being of the teenagers improve. There are centres at Woodbrook Youth Facility and Chase Village.

This good work is in danger of being destroyed. Stipends and rentals have not been paid since November. Parents complain because Arouca is temporarily closed.

Reports are that this “couldn’t care less” attitude began when the centres were moved from under the control of the Soroptimist Club. Letters have been written and to date there has been no response regarding non-payments. It is well known that funds had been already allocated for this purpose a few months ago.

I work too hard on a daily basis with young people to keep them “on the straight and narrow.” Every day we are seeing our teenagers losing control.

They are losing faith in the adults who appear to them to be uncaring. They feel abused at every turn. Homework centres are places of safety and personal-social and academic development. Homework centres help to educate.

The more education an individual has, the more he/she understands that it is only through peace that there can be progress. Our teenagers must stop being victims.