00:00Building Resilient Youth Against Gangs is a partnership between the Beverly Hills Blockade
00:05Police Youth Club and the Oral Tradition Roots Foundation, which seeks to mitigate gang activity
00:12in vulnerable communities through the empowerment of young people.
00:16We know that gangs thrive where there is despair, hopelessness, lack of guidance, and when there
00:26is no vision.
00:30It is why mentorship is so critical.
00:33Program coordinator Emtimasoluwasi emphasized the significance of the initiative, particularly
00:40in East Port of Spain.
00:42St. Paul, St. Ann and Betham have a lot of issues, and for us to be here is a testament
00:46of the work of the Police Youth Club, right, where they could bridge that gap and bring
00:53youth from the different communities in one space, and we hope to really replicate that
00:59in Beverly Hills, in Betham, even as far as Palasikwa, I saw some youth from Palasikwa
01:05here today, and Moruga.
01:07So the same way, unfortunately, crime is spreading, we need to spread positivity.
01:14Soluwasi further notes that the program helps to create trust in the police service.
01:20We need the young people to see the police as allies, right, yes you know there are some
01:25police who may be rogue, but generally the rule is protect and serve with pride, and
01:32we need the youth to see that, and we need the youth to understand they themselves are
01:37not enemies, right, and come together for their future, right, and that's basically
01:43what this program is about.
01:44Among the program's offerings are steel pan classes, public speaking, sessions on how
01:50to deal with trauma, and sporting development through a unique partnership with Union Football
01:56Club based in the United States.
01:59It's an opportunity for them to go to various colleges through scholarships, we will play
02:05in various tournaments there in the States, college showcases and so forth, and also opportunities
02:12for them when they graduate at 18, 19 years old to go into a semi-professional, professional
02:17realm in Europe, which there's a lot of clubs in Europe that are looking for players.
02:24The program is funded by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond took the opportunity
02:30to encourage more organizations to join the cause.
02:34Together we are ensuring that young people have the access to the tools they need to
02:39participate in sports, develop teamwork skills, and cultivate healthy, positive habits that
02:47will benefit them for years and years to come.
02:50Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
