Scarborough Methodist earn Child Rights Ambassadors title

Students of the Scarborough Methodist Primary School has copped the title of “Most Outstanding Primary School Child Rights Video Presentation” in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) Child Rights Ambassadors (CRA) programme.

As Ambassadors, the students will represent the Office of the Prime Minister (National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee, Gender and Child Affairs) for a one-year period, and will be invited to participate in media appearances, assist with the finalisation of the National Child Policy and given the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills at various events hosted by the Office.

The Office of the Prime Minister officially launched the CRA programme at City Hall, Port-of-Spain on Monday in commemoration of Universal Children’s Day. The programme seeks to provide a platform for children to speak out on issues that affect them. Through the programme, 47 children were trained and empowered to educate their peers on the rights of a child by using innovative methods of communications. Ambassadors were asked to submit creative presentations and videos highlighting activities they conducted with their peers while sharing information on the United Nations Child Rights.

Scarborough Methodist was among 18 - including Belle Garden Primary and Signal Secondary from Tobago - and four community residences that participated in the programme which utilised the creative arts and peer teaching to educate children about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its relevance to their lives.

Speaking at the launch, Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the videos submitted by the Ambassadors “have made an impact, with some schools going above the call of duty, and not only shared with their schoolmates but neighbouring schools as well.”

She said based on the research conducted by the Child Team, all the presentations combined have touched approximately 7,000 lives across Trinidad and Tobago.