Building Bridges for Trinidad and Tobago's Youth

In Trinidad and Tobago, crime has been a constant for decades and young people are often drawn into cycles of violence. Young men face the greatest risk, targeted by gang leaders who promise belonging but deliver harm.

“Crime continues to be a big problem year after year,” says Gail Sooknarine of United Way Trinidad and Tobago. “It is not just a government problem. It is government, civil society and corporate coming together to try to solve this problem.”

United Way’s Building Bridges to Success Programme focuses on children aged 5 to 8, a critical stage for developing literacy and social-emotional skills. In vulnerable communities, setbacks in early education can push children further toward the margins and into the reach of the wrong influences. In 2024 alone, the program reached nearly 6,000 children and their families across 14 primary schools in rural and high-risk urban areas. 

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The program is shaped by United Way’s long-standing relationships with schools, parents, and community leaders. These ties ensure the work reflects local realities, from fishing villages to dense city neighborhoods, and keeps the focus on building conditions where families can thrive.

Support extends to every part of a child’s network. More than 25 teachers have been trained in language development and social-emotional learning initiatives like NOW! and Think Equal. In 2024, 185 parents took part in workshops that help them reinforce learning at home. Schools gain resources from classroom assistants to safe out of school activities. 

“When we look at tackling any problem, we start from the education standpoint and from early intervention,” Gail explains. “We felt that learning about the environment at that young age was essential to inculcate a sense of responsibility in children.”

The goal is for every child to read with confidence by age 8, opening paths that lead away from crime and toward opportunity. United Way Trinidad and Tobago and its partners are working to ensure every child has the foundation to thrive and the freedom to choose a better path.