More than 500 local and migrant children across Trinidad and Tobago are leading efforts to end violence and abuse in their schools and communities.
The participants in the Spotlight Heroes Programme are implementing projects in 30 secondary schools and in various communities to address issues important to them, including bullying, school violence, child abuse, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and anger management.
Designed and delivered by the Heroes Foundation and UNICEF in support of the Spotlight Initiative, the Spotlight Heroes Programme started in April 2022 to educate and empower children and youth to lead and demand lives free from violence and abuse.
Participants received training in gender sensitivity, leadership, advocacy, communication, technology skills, and project management, and developed project plans to address problems experienced in their schools and communities.
To date, over 9,000 people have been engaged in youth-led education and advocacy projects, and over 775,000 have been reached through social media as participants raise their voices to inspire positive behaviour change, safety, and respect for children and youth.
The Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative of the United Nations which has received generous support from the European Union. It aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Heroes Programme is supported by several ministries and entities committed to safeguarding and protecting children and youth in Trinidad and Tobago, including the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs), the Ministry of Education, the Tobago House of Assembly, and the Pan-American Development Foundation.
Chief Executive Officer of The Heroes Foundation, Lawrence J Arjoon said “Violence is not a normal part of life, and children deserve to be safe and free from all forms of abuse.
"To fight the problems that continue to corrupt our society, we must ensure that children understand their rights, know how to protect themselves and get help, and have the confidence that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.
"We must listen to children when they speak up about things that make them feel scared, unsafe, or at risk, and empower them to lead solutions to the problems they are unfortunately inheriting."
Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said that the ministry continued to lead a collaborative approach to support the needs of students and address violence and abuse in schools.
She added that one of the multi-sector initiatives was that of the Spotlight Heroes Programme which allowed them to leverage international best practices and local expertise and experience to directly intervene and empower students to lead the change needed amongst their peers.
Gadsby-Dolly said they expected the programme to enhance their interventions for reducing violence, by empowering students to become leaders who will impart respect to their peers and advocate against violence.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy said multi-stakeholder collaboration was a critical part of the implementation of the National Child Policy, and they continued to lead and support work to create a better future for children in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to Webster-Roy, they will continue to do all that they can to ensure children were safeguarded and protected and have a solid foundation as they grow up.