 |
| Cerrone Prevatte |
What’s the situation?
In many parts of the world, including here in Trinidad and Tobago, considerable numbers of young people are finding it difficult to pursue a positive pathway in life. This is often because they come from a dysfunctional or challenging family background which does not provide them with the skills necessary to survive in a world that is changing at an ever increasing pace. Something like 45% of the young persons interviewed as part of the T&T Gen Y project came from households which were single parent or were being cared for by a relative or guardian. That’s a tough start in life.
What’s the issue?
Helping such young people cope with all aspects of life becomes a critical factor in determining what sort of future lies ahead for a country like T&T. As one of the young interviewees explained to us during the interview process ‘if you create monsters your will be ruled by monsters’. It’s a comment that deserves some real reflection.
Who is our ‘Champion’?
Our Champion this month is Ms Ceronne Prevatte, Director of the Life Skills Unit at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education (MSTTE) who describes herself as ‘an educator to the core!’
What’s her background?
She has a range of tertiary qualifications including an MA and specialised Diplomas in English Literature, Education, Curriculum Development and Reading, Audio Visual Aids in Education and Special Education from both Caribbean and UK universities. She started off in the school system and became involved in a lot of diagnostic and prescriptive curriculum work to meet special target group needs. She then became a Career Enhancement Coordinator and then Training Coordinator for the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP).
And then?
She became a Curriculum Officer and then was recruited by the MSTTE, initially as a Life Skills Adviser and then later as the Director, Life Skills Unit. She works with the Cabinet appointed Life Skills Committee that oversees the National Life Skills Curriculum for personal development and employment enhancement. Her unit is responsible for overseeing the Life Skills training of persons enrolled in the On-the-Job Training, Retraining and Multi-sector Skills Training (MuST) Programmes and several other programmes managed by six other Ministries.
Why is Ceronne our ‘Champion’?
It is because she is always searching for innovative new ways of delivering high quality outcomes that will help young people in T&T become better equipped in the areas of life skills and career planning so that they have a better chance of achieving their aspirations. To this end she has embraced the Y-Vision 10 year life and career planning workshop module developed for young people to help them plan their lives longer term and helped introduce it to a large number of Life Skills and Career Coaches throughout Trinidad and Tobago. The response has been enthusiastic from both Ceronne and the teams of coaches who she works with.
What does this mean for T&T?
Ten years from now, T&T will increasingly be shaped by the generation that is aged from 14 - 28 today (Gen Y) - and the younger generations coming after this group. How T&T will be at that time will depend heavily upon the life skills and career choices these young people learn and make today. Prevention is far cheaper than cure. People like Ceronne have extremely limited resources to work with - but they are making a big impact.
Key link:MSTTE Link
Key question: Do we ever think about the consequences of failing to invest sufficient resources into the future of T&T?
|
