The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the government of Trinidad and Tobago, officially launched the USAID Youth Resilience, Inclusion, and Empowerment (Y-RIE) Program at the Hyatt Hotel, Port of Spain, on Sept. 26.
USAID implements Y-RIE, a US$30 million program to reduce youth involvement in violence and crime, in four Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago. The program runs through August 2027.
U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond said, “Our ties—a shared hemisphere and common values—mean that the health, safety, and security of Trinbagonian citizens affect the health, safety, and security of U.S. citizens, and vice versa. This interconnectedness underscores why the Government of the United States, through USAID, has partnered with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to tackle youth crime and violence.”
USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Regional Representative Mervyn Farroe said, “Y-RIE is a public declaration of USAID’s intent to support the youth of Trinidad and Tobago to reach their full potential and become positive contributors to society and the future of their country.”
Through Y-RIE, USAID is working with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to build human resource skills within agencies that provide social sector and justice services to at-risk youth, increase access to responsive services, address the multifaceted needs of youth who face expulsion and suspension from school, increase youth access to mental health and psychosocial support services, and support other activities that empower youth to lead successful lives.
USAID added Trinidad and Tobago as a focus country for Y-RIE in August 2023. Since that time, the USAID Y-RIE program has been engaging partners in government, including the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, the Ministry of Education, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Center (YTRC), other government agencies, civil society partners, and the private sector, to design and implement activities that reduce risky behaviors and violence by youth, strengthen families and promote community safety.
In August, Y-RIE worked with the YTRC to train 19 staff to better support young people using methods that address trauma and emotional learning. Nine staff members also received additional training to provide better care for youth residents.
Y-RIE has also partnered with the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to improve their services, increase access to mental health support, and improve emergency placement processes at three reception centers for children.