This is ME, V is accompanied by avid press drive on Social Media and traditional press in supporting and making visible the work of the program, our trainees and our partners. Check us out on Social Media: This is Me Global on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Helping young entrepreneurs through Fashion by Paula Lindo
http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2016-08-14/helping-young-entrepreneurs-through-fashion
This is ME V brings Fashion to Forefront by Zahra Gordon
http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,232671.html
This is ME on I95.5, August 11th 2016
This is Me V Orientation with US Ambassador to Trinidad & Tobago, John L. Estrada
Students and their families braved the rain to attend Caribbean InTransit’s two-day Student Orientation for their outreach programme for high need youth; “This is Me V.” Orientation, on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th September, 2016 at the IBIS Centre; 21-22 New Yalta, Diego Martin, marked the beginning of their journey into a 6-month fashion and entrepreneurial training program. The program involves life skills, business and technical skills and market linkages to start a micro business in fashion design and production. The This is ME Fashion Module is developed with support from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)’s fashion program director to adapt to the local context and to facilitate some linkages, where feasible, to facilitate transition into UTT’s diploma or certificate program for participants. This is an opportunity for participants of the programme to achieve their creative dreams with access to $30,000.00 loans as start-up capital.
A two-day engagement included stimulating activities and discussions orienting students and their families to the structure and expectations of the program. By learning the inspirational stories of their coordinators, partners, mentors, peers and guest speakers, students recognized the great investment and hope that was being placed in them. They acknowledged the great potential of this opportunity for their own personal upliftment but also for that of their communities. Many of the young women entering This is ME, V, shared how privileged they felt to have learned of the program and to become a part of a warm and welcoming This is ME community. All creative with loves from dance, to makeup and fashion, expressed their excitement about fulfilling their dream to become young leaders and change-makers.
The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” was the theme of the first day of the orientation. In keeping with this theme the students met with coordinators and partners of the program who shared their enthusiasm about the programme and their roles. One of our benefactors Ms. Elaine Reid, has graciously donated her home at 11 Dennis Street, Belmont. Her home will be used as a creative and classroom space for the programme and has been affectionately renamed, “This is Me; Reid House” in her honour. Ms. Reid, who is 96 years old, was the guest of honour on the first day of orientation. Her significant contributions to her community as a Principal at the Progressive Girls High School which was a private school in Port-of-Spain. She also rose through the ranks of the St. John’s Ambulance as the Principal Nursing Superintendent and she received the award of Serving Sister from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were highlighted. Ms. Reid.
Speakers included Dr. Marielle Barrow-Maignan, founder of Caribbean InTransit and Project Manager for “This is Me”; Ms. Lisa Wickham, founder of Imagine Media and Film Coordinator for “This is Me,” Mr. Gregory Seale, Citizen Security Programme (CSP) Coordinator; Mrs. Barbara Bridgewater, Life Skills Coordinator and Mr. James Hackett; Fashion Module Teaching Assistant.
The featured speaker of the Orientation was His Excellency John L. Estrada; US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. He began by congratulating Fullbright Alumna, Dr. Marielle Barrow-Maignan for fulfilling the spirit and mandate of the Fullbright Program in returning to Trinidad and creating a social movement that enriches society. Having paved the way for greatness for our Trinbagonian people, Ambassador Estrada implanted seeds of determination and persistence in our young entrepreneurs. “I experienced some of the things that you are going through right now, but I did not let that define me” His Excellency John L. Estrada, US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. Ambassador Estrada urged the students to determine their own destiny and not to allow others to negatively brand or influence their potential for becoming leaders.
Ambassador Estrada set the tone for real, unceremonious discussion on the personal sacrifice required to get ahead. He shared that often time, he chose to be a home body rather than become consumed with partying, drugs or just general unproductive directions. As a son of the soil from Laventille who has made it through many of the challenges faced by these high-need youth, to achieve the highest ranks of the US Marine corps, his words resonated strongly. He left our shores at age 14 and pursued a military career in The United States of America. Prior to his confirmation as the US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 34 years, most notably as the 15th Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps, the nation’s highest-ranking enlisted Marine, from 2003 to 2007, during the height of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the first, US Ambassador dispatched to a foreign country who is originally from that state and the first foreign born to achieve the rank of Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps in charge of over 250,000 Marines.
As he shared his military background with the students he also congratulated them for showing up, told them how proud he was and that he is going to champion them all and he will check in on their progress from time to time. “It’s easy to quit but it takes a fighter, someone who is focused and strong to get ahead.”
The evening ended on a high note with the students asking questions and taking “selfies” with the Ambassador.
For more information about the programme go to Facebook; This is Me Global or you can contact them at 305 0539.
About ‘This is ME V’:
This is ME V, 2016 is the fifth edition of this program created by Caribbean InTransit’s founder Dr. Marielle Barrow. It is, is co-funded by the Inter-American Development Bank through the Multi-Lateral Investment Fund (MIF). This fifth edition of This is ME will build on Caribbean InTransit’s experience in hosting workshops to develop the life and entrepreneurial skills of high need youth. Caribbean InTransit’s This is ME program offers technical training and certification as well as life skills and business support for micro entrepreneurship activities in the local fashion sector. Caribbean InTransit is a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Trinidad and Tobago and Virginia; USA. Their outreach programme, “This is Me” seeks to target 200 persons between the ages of 16-32 in high-need communities in and around Port-of-Spain and engage them in 6 month programs involving life skills, business and technical skills and market linkages to start a micro business in fashion design and production. The This is ME Fashion Module is developed with support from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)’s fashion program director to adapt to the local context and to facilitate some linkages, where feasible, to facilitate transition into UTT’s diploma or certificate program for participants. This is an opportunity for participants of the programme to achieve their creative dreams with access to $30,000.00 loans as start-up capital. Partners of the programme include the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Citizen Security Programme (CSP), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Art Therapy Association of Trinidad and Tobago and The National Integrated Business Incubation System (IBIS).
