Trinidad and Tobago

Title of Pilot Programme

Rehabilitation of Child Labourers and Prevention of Child Labour in Two Landfill Sites – Beetham Estate, Port of Spain and Forres Park, Claxton Bay, Trinidad

Implementing Agency

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

Duration

June 2004 – October 2005

Programme Objective: The goal of this programme is to withdraw and prevent approximately 140 children from working in the Beetham and Forres Park dumpsites. The programme delivers an integrated package that focuses not only on the provision of education and training for children, but also on economic alternatives for the families and adolescents. The programme seeks to provide children with health and other social services, focusing on activities that encourage children to remain in school. It also includes preventative strategies to avoid children from the very poor communities surrounding the dumpsites, from ever working there.

Programme Strategy

The programme targets the source communities closest to the two dumpsites and includes direct action and services to present an alternative developmental approach as well as to heighten community awareness of the dangers of hazardous child labour. The sustainability of the intervention is promoted by incorporating broad-based community participation in the programme and by seeking to secure funding from non-IPEC sources. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Cabinet Appointed National Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour in Trinidad and Tobago, which provides technical support and other direct services to the implementing agency.

Programme components

• Rehabilitation and immediate withdrawal of children who work on the dumpsites as well as those who do not got to school or still attend but are at risk of dropping out or failing. Relevant diagnostic, counselling, education and training, recreational and artistic activities are provided.
• Promotion of change in attitudes within the communities and the families, towards child labour in general and towards the garbage sector in particular. A strong campaign of social sensitization to facilitate attitudinal change and perceptions regarding child labour will be launched. The importance of education will be actively promoted as a basis for the development of children. The members of the YMCA’s Character Caravan who were trained by ILO/IPEC to deliver the SCREAM programme will play a major role in this outreach activity. This will be done in collaboration with community groups, NGOs, the Solid Waste Management Co. Ltd., social service agencies and the Ministry of education.
• The creation of committees to support the programme, including parents’ committees.
• The provision of health and nutrition services to children working on the dumpsites, given their prolonged exposure to health and safety hazards there. This component aims to improve the children’s physical and psychological well-being and raise their nutritional levels. This component is run in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.
• Training and advice on alternative economic activities are given to family members, especially female heads of households. Microcredit and cooperative facilities will be made available to assist with assessing and pursuing economic options. Government projects that provide microcredit facilities and training subsidies will be encouraged to offer these services to the target communities. Great emphasis will be placed on linking females to existing programmes within the Gender Affairs Division that enhance the marketable skills of women.
• An effective monitoring system is in place. This system will combine a community monitoring network and a monitoring and tracking system implemented by the YMCA.