Application
to the
Rhodes Youth Forum 2014
Project Proposal:
For The Development of Youth Diplomacy The Establishment of a Youth Leadership
Development Programme in Trinidad and
Tobago
Submitted by Kieron Joseph Samaroo
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
West Indies
Vision
 To establish a centre of learning and leadership development
for potential young leaders in Trinidad and Tobago. This
project is borne out of a vision that Trinidad and Tobago will
benefit from a new, fresh, young, dynamic generation of
leadership that will inspire changes, resolve challenges,
pursue innovation and forward developments within our
political system, our civil society, and our economy.
Background to Trinidad and
Tobago
 A developing country to the bottom of the Caribbean chain of
islands
 Population: 1.3 million people
 Economy built on energy, manufacturing, commerce,
agriculture, tourism.
 System of Government : Westminster.
 Aging population: 50 per cent of population is beneath age of
40 (Source: Trinidad Newsday)
 Since Trinidad and Tobago achieved Independence and
Republicanism from the British Empire in 1962 and 1976
respectively, there has been much dependence on the state for
development. Now, with increasingly limited human and
economic resources, and increasingly available information and
technological resources, there is the need for social , economic
and political development to occur beyond the machinations of
state and to be heavily developed by civil society, particularly
the youth. There is the need for effective intergenerational
knowledge transfer, modernization of practices and creative
solution-finding to the issues causing the stagnation of
development and underdevelopment in various fields of study.
 Young people must be equipped more and more to lead social,
state, civic, economic, political sectors to ensure that the
'leadership mind' of the country and society in general is duly
equipped to face 21st century challenges and to provide 21st
century solutions for this small nation state nestled in a sea of
competing international interests and crises.
Aims of Project
 Establish a programme for youth leadership development,
training youth to represent sectoral and community interests
on a volunteer basis
 Create a network of young leaders who can inspire the
development of civil society and government,
 To create a pool of youth volunteers who can lend technical
and physical support to NGOs in developing their outreach,
resources and profiles.
Target Group
 The Youth Leadership Development Centre will seek to target
young people – both male and female - between the ages of
15 and 19 years of age.
 This demographic will be targeted via the use of social media
and direct interaction with youth-based organizations,
schools and civil society.
Five Broad Elements in
Implementing Project Proposal
STEP 1 : Creation of a Curriculum
Development of training content based on the following fields:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Policy analysis
Policy development
Public speaking and peer-to-peer interaction
Volunteerism
Fundraising
Networking for success
Use of social media to garner support and publicity
Step 2: Engaging Facilitators
Develop curriculum with and secure commitment of persons in
the following fields as facilitators:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Academics
Technocrats
Civil society leaders
Media processionals
Educators
Step 3: Marketing
Target demographic must communicated with, engaged, and
inspired to participate in program. Must be convinced that
leadership training offered will resound to their benefit.
Step 4: Training delivery
Establish a training schedule, and implement the modules.
Each module to include a practical enforcement element, for
the young participants to enforce what they would have learnt.
Step 5: Practical Partnership
Centre will establish partnership with NGOs that are willing to
give program participants guided exposure in the field and the
opportunity to implement what they have learnt in the training
modules.
At this stage, participants will be prompted to apply what they
have learnt in a practical sense.
Step 6: Ongoing Partnership
Young people participating in the programme are nurtured into
volunteering with various NGOs.
Participants and facilitators alike are networked into a
leadership and technical resource pool from which civic groups
can draw.
Conclusion
The establishment of a youth development program/centre will
focus on empowering young people to actively participate in
matters affecting communities and causes. It will also network
physical and internet-based resources for the benefit of social
groups. It will provide a forum that will equip communities with
new techniques, leadership training, skills development and
other tools necessary in running a successful
NGO/CBO/YBO/RBO.
At the end of it, it will produce an empowered generation of
young people who can volunteer their time and newfound skill
towards developing communities and civic groups
Last year, there was much support for this project Since then
our network of technocrats, benefactors and volunteers has
grown tremendously. We will have accumulated much support
to put towards the implementation of these projects including
this Youth Leadership Centre.