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National Mentorship Programme (NMP)
Ministry of National Security – National Mentorship Programme

A. Problem Analysis

 1. What was the problem before the implementation of the initiative?
In 2007, public consultations on crime were held; subsequent to this a report was done which stated that Trinidad and Tobago continues to have an escalating crime problem in which young persons were mainly involved. It was also recognized that a linear approach to fighting crime was not enough and that there should be more of a preventative approach rather than presenting only a solution. An article published by The Trinidad Guardian on September 16, 2013 reported that former Minister of National Security Brigadier (Ret’d) John Sandy, speaking during a stakeholder’s consultation on the Mentorship Programme at Crown Plaza, said Government was deeply concerned with the high incidence of crime and anti-social behaviours, especially among the youth. He said information from T&T’s penal system revealed that the majority of inmates between the ages of 18 to 29 were there for drug-related offences. “In 2009, figures from the Youth Training Centre (YTC) revealed that 119 lads were remanded on narcotic-related offences”. He added that most times, “at risk” youth, both men and women, ended up at YTC or at the nation’s prisons. These factors informed the establishment the National Mentorship Programme. The National Mentorship Programme aims to develop relationships focused on youth’s social and academic development. There are various challenges that have impacted the structure, attitude and functioning of the primary units of socialization in society, resulting in the breakdown of family life, poor moral and spiritual values and youth under-achievement all of which are precursors to youth becoming at-risk. The focus of the Mentoring programme varies from dropout prevention, to job training, school retention and attendance, literacy, community development as well as prevention of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence and crime. The programme offers one-on-one Mentoring, that is, it seeks to provide personalized attention (one Mentor to one Mentee) and care to the young persons who participate in the programme. The Mentor is both a friend and role model who supports and encourages the Mentee in holistic development. After reviewing local programmes and projects impacting youth, it was recognized that despite the existence of many mentoring programmes in Trinidad and Tobago, most are unstructured, informal, focus on short term goals and the mentors usually operate without reference to professional training or curricula. It was therefore recommended that Mentors of this initiative (NMP) be trained in Life Skills development and methodologies that are appropriate to our youth and culture. Given the major demographics and economic shift and trends in society, that is, increase in single parenting, decrease in extended family networks, and technological innovations, it was clear that the family and the community, traditionally the providers of social capital, no longer is able to provide the necessary support for a growing percentage of the youth population. The programme therefore acts as a support system to youth at risk experiencing these challenges.

B. Strategic Approach

 2. What was the solution?
In 2007 following Public Consultations on Crime, it was recommended that a structured programme be launched whereby trained personnel would provide one-on-one mentoring to youth-at –risk. In light of this, Cabinet by minute No. 938 of October 07th, 2010 directed the Establishment of a ministerial committee for the design, development and implementation of a structured mentoring programme for youth-at-risk and the launch of a national campaign to educate and inculcate sound family values and positive attitudes. The programme falls under the auspices of the Ministry of National Security along with representatives from the Inter-Ministerial Committee who have since undergone changes in members. The Committee had its genesis in the Public Consultations on Crime held from April 18th – May 18th, 2007. The committee members came from the following Ministries: Government Information Services Limited, the then Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Ministry of National Security, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and Ministry of Education (Student Support Services). In the Final Report on the Public Consultations held by the Ministry of National Security it was recommended, inter alia: The establishment of a structured mentoring programme which utilizes trained professionals to provide one on one mentoring to youth at risk. Given the consistent interest shown throughout the consultations in this specific area, the proposed programme will also utilize the services of volunteers who would be given the appropriate training. And that there be: The launch of a sustained National Campaign to educate and inculcate sound family values, behaviour modification, civics, and positive attitudes, utilizing all appropriate institutions and channels of communication. On June 25th, 2010 remaining members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee met to revive and continue to work on implementing the recommendations made in the 2007 report. From that 2010 meeting it was identified that under the Ministry of National Security, the committee would comprise, (4) stakeholder Ministries, namely, Ministry of the People and Social Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport & Youth Affairs and Ministry of Science, Technology & Tertiary Education. A report was submitted which resulted in the Minute of October 2010. With representatives from the above listed partnering Ministries comprising the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the solution was gathered from their expertise, along with information available from previous work in the subject matter undertaken by several government ministries. From then, the Committee faithfully met on a monthly basis to design and implement the National Mentorship Programme and saw its official launch on April 10th 2011. It was attended by our Hon. Prime Minister and fully endorsed by Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.) and his wife Alma Powell of the United States of America, guest speakers at the event. It was piloted for two years ending April 2013 and approval has been granted for continuance for a further six years. The Inter-Ministerial Committee again reconstituted in 2013 remains the overarching decision maker in the NMP to date.
 3. How did the initiative solve the problem and improve people’s lives?
The National Mentorship Programme has various creative and innovative elements which set it apart from other programmes of a similar concept. Research leading up to its design, showed that despite the existence of many ‘youth-impact’ oriented and mentoring programmes operating within Trinidad and Tobago, most were unstructured, informal, lacked trained personnel and focused on short term goals. However, The NMP offers formal, structured mentoring to youth by trained adults. That is, the mentoring relationship lasts for one year or in some cases 18 months (upon recommendation from Monitoring Officer and based on feedback assessments). Meetings are once weekly for at least 2 hours. Upon matching the Mentor with the Mentee, the day, time and neutral location (community centre, regional complex, school, government facility etc.) is previously agreed upon to establish consistency and regularity of meetings. The pair then meets and mentoring takes place. As part of the recruitment process, Mentors undergo a 30 contact hour training programme which prepares them for the mentoring relationship. The curriculum is partly based on Life Skills but also covers relevant topics such as conflict resolution and volunteerism and most recently, as a separate cycle of training, Trauma Treatment. It was recognised that to better equip our Mentors to understand and appreciate the situations the youth enrolled in our programme face and come from, this was critical. This will in turn help the Mentor provide greater support and together with programme management make informed decisions on providing solutions and improved delivery of services to our clients (Mentees, Parents). Also, work done by our Mentors, the time spent with their charges, sharing life experiences, being a role model, and example and proving support to them while the youth navigate their way through life, is to a great extent a long term investment and more qualitative in nature. Another creative aspect is the well organised monitoring arm of the programme. When Mentors meet with their Mentees, a Monitoring Officer essentially overseers that relationship and is present to observe and report findings back to the programme. There are Monitoring Officers distributed throughout the country and are designated by regions: Trinidad: North (Port of Spain and environs), East, Central and South and Tobago. They are each in charge of Mentors and Mentees in their jurisdiction. The officers collect and collate information using various instruments for assessment and measurement designed by the programme to track progress of the Mentee. This is gathered from various sources including the Mentor, Parents and School officials. Additionally, the NMP, explicitly being a soft approach to crime fighting and pre-emptive in nature makes it a new and different concept in Trinidad and Tobago. It falls under the aegis of the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry responsible for crime reduction. It is innovative in this light because, it was recognised that aggressive, ‘hard’, and militant tactics and strategies are not always successful, especially when dealing with youth. Consequently, our target audience is youth at risk who are Mentored by volunteers who possess a genuine passion for working with youth. Through that adult who acts as a role model, a friend and who provides support and guidance, positive change can be achieved. The NMP also focuses on behaviour modification as it aims for positive re-direction of the youth being mentored. With our first cohort of mentors graduating in May 2013, this was evident. After being assessed and being found fit to graduate, Mentees did achieve positive growth within that one year with their Mentor and there have been many Mentees and parents who shared testimonials of their change. Furthermore, a unique quality of the NMP is providing all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago with the opportunity to make a marked difference in their society. This is because crime affects everyone and this provides the citizens with an opportunity to change that situation by helping youth in a structured way thus contributing to nation building, longevity of prospects and ensuring a safer and brighter future. Moreover, with Intervention on the family level with the Mentee and in some cases the Mentor, this is also a creative and innovative aspect of the programme. On feedback for the Monitoring Officers, interventions by way of home visitations to speak with parents; school visits and meetings with principals and teachers; obtaining resources for financial and material aid through partnerships Mentees, their families and in some cases Mentors as well and ensuring the safety of our Mentees and families by working with community police and other agencies. All of these aspects of the programme that have been outlined make the NMP creative and innovative and affords a greater chance for sustainability and permanence of the programme to spread its arms throughout the country and possibly the Caribbean region.

C. Execution and Implementation

 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
The National Mentorship Programme, since the establishment of our first Mentee camp at ECIAF in 2011 resulted in the successful completion of seventeen (17) Mentee orientation camps in total with 314 youth being oriented. Actual mentoring began in February 2012 after our first cohort of Mentors and Mentees were matched. Since then we have had 135 matches, 26 of whom successfully completed and graduated out of the programme in May 2013. We currently have 49 relationships spanning the country. Matching is an ongoing process. Mentoring is conducted at Mentoring centres in (5) regions, namely North, East, Central and South (Trinidad) and Tobago Since then we have had a number of activities to foster capacity building and provide technical support; the first annual Mentee Christmas celebration held in both islands in December 2013, the aim of which was to show appreciation and foster social cohesion with mentees, mentors, families and staff. Our first Mentor appreciation event was held in February 2013 aimed at continuing Mentors motivation and to express the nation’s gratitude for the volunteer service provided by Mentors, our first graduation cycle on April 2013 as well as a number of routine activities such as training recruiting and matching of Mentees and Mentors. We hosted our first focus group sessions for Mentors, parents and Mentees, as well as the two De-briefing sessions for Mentors. In addition, training was provided for Mentors, Camp instructors and NMP staff in the field of trauma treatment in September 2013. The Mentorship Unit has also achieved the following: Completion of the Procedural Manual, On-going recruitment of Mentors and matching of Mentors and Mentees, Launched Mentorship Website, Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COSTAATT, Conducted reviews of the programme and procedure with stakeholders including youth Additionally, the NMP Hosted Convocation at the Diplomatic Centre, Prime Minister’s Residence, September 30, 2011 for all mentees, mentors, parents and other stakeholders. Some 300 persons attended including 51 from Tobago, Focus group discussions for Mentors, Mentees, parents/guardians and Conducted ‘Fatherhood Fair’ in 2011 and 2012. The goal of the fair was to provide families with an opportunity to be aware of services which are relevant to their well-being, while supporting the roles of fathers and mothers in parenting their children. The National Mentorship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Brochure was completed which is widely used to disseminate information as to what the Mentorship Programme is about. Partnerships have been established with COSTATT, NADAPP, National Drug Council, Ministries of the People and Social Development, Community Development, Education, Gender Youth and Child Development, Tertiary Education and Skills Training among other agencies and this has allowed for a more effective delivery of services. The Mentorship Unit has also conducted several outreach efforts.
 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
As stated in question 2, stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme originate within the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for its design and implementation. Currently, the committee comprises a Chairman (of the Ministry if National Security and presently the advisor to the Minister), the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security, and representatives of the ministries of The People and Social Development, Gender Youth and Child Development, Education, Tertiary Education and Skills Training (TEST) and Community Development. Each member has an alternate representative. When meetings are held, the Director of the NMP is present along with another senior member of staff. With the above mentioned partnering Ministries comprising the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the solution was gathered from their expertise, along with information available from previous work in the subject matter undertaken by several government ministries. From then, the Committee faithfully met on a monthly basis to design and implement the National Mentorship Programme and saw its official launch on April 10th 2011. The Inter-Ministerial Committee remains the overarching decision maker in the NMP to date and continue to meet on a monthly basis as per their ministerial directive. Members of the Committee, in addition to fulfilling their given roles, also assist with providing and sourcing resources for interventions and meeting special needs of the programme and its clientele.
 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
Cabinet approval for the implementation of the programme was at a cost of $5,758,946.00. The initial funding was for provided for the establishment staffing of the programme as well the launch of the programme. These funds were used to set up the office, conduct camps and hire staff. Additional support that was required was provided from existing resources in the Ministry of National Security. The number of staff employed from 2011 totalled ten (10) persons: Director, Coordinator, two Monitoring Officers II (one each for Trinidad and Tobago), three Monitoring Officers I, one camp coordinator and 2 business operations assistants. A camp coordinator was employed in the programme through the Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago. Resources and funding for the programme is provided by the Ministry of National Security through the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
Since its inception in 2011, the NMP has had many notable achievements and have indeed impacted the lives of young persons and their families who have been a part of the programme. Our most successful output are as follows: The completion of the Procedural Manual, On-going recruitment of Mentors and matching of Mentors and Mentees, Launched Mentorship Website, Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COSTAATT, Conducted reviews of the programme and procedure with stakeholders including youth. Additionally, the NMP Hosted Convocation at the Diplomatic Centre, Prime Minister’s Residence, September 30, 2011 for all mentees, mentors, parents and other stakeholders. Some 300 persons attended including 51 from Tobago, Focus group discussions for Mentors, Mentees, parents/guardians and Conducted ‘Fatherhood Fair’ in 2011 and 2012. The goal of the fair was to provide families with an opportunity to be aware of services which are relevant to their well-being, while supporting the roles of fathers and mothers in parenting their children. The National Mentorship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Brochure was completed which is widely used to disseminate information as to what the Mentorship Programme is about. Partnerships have been established with COSTATT, NADAPP, National Drug Council, Ministries of the People and Social Development, Community Development, Education, Gender Youth and Child Development, Tertiary Education and Skills Training among other agencies and this has allowed for a more effective delivery of services. The Mentorship Unit has also conducted several outreach efforts. In December 2013, we have also begun setting up a Facebook page for greater reach within the country and to provide an opportunity for a greater level of interaction with the public where they can apply to be mentors, referrals can be made and feedback can be given. Pending in January 2013 is our inaugural National Mentorship Month where throughout that period the NMP seeks to host relevant activities targeted to Families, Communities, Workplaces and Trinidad and Tobago and engage these groups through inventive means.
 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
There is an effective monitoring and evaluation system in place. A team of Monitoring Officers oversee the interaction between the Mentee and the Mentor, and provide support and guidance. There is one officer each for South, Central, East and North Trinidad and Tobago. Monitoring Officers collect and collate data and make referrals to other support agencies and Ministries as the need arises, in the interest of the Mentee. To track progress, a multitude of assessments are done based on the 5 Cs model, (competence, confidence, character, caring and connection). This includes Progress reports, a pre and post relationship survey which takes a 360 degree approach as information is sought from the school and home environments, the Mentor and the Mentee. The Mentors are also asked to submit a monthly report that details goals, strategies/activities and their Mentee’s progress. On the other hand, for the NMP, the measurement of success is also qualitative as the programme mainly seeks to modify behaviour and re-direct the lives of youth.
 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
Although accomplishments have been significant, the benefits of Mentoring to impact the crime statistics in Trinidad and Tobago are still in its infancy stage. The programme was challenged by various elements. Lengthy delays in staffing the unit grossly contributed to delays in operationalization of the programme. There was a great lack of male volunteers, which has led to delays in matching male mentees. This challenge is particularly worrisome as the main perpetrators of crime in the society are young males. Since then the Unit has engaged in rigorous advocacy specifically targeting males as mentors. There has been a lack of parental support and involvement: the family environment is critical to the sustainable behaviour change in Mentees. Often parents of at-risk youth are employed in multiple jobs due to financial challenges and are unable to attend sessions. Mentees are even prevented from attending sessions to assist with domestic situations. Additionally parents of Mentees have asked for support / training to assist them with improving their parenting skills. To alleviate this problem, we created parental focus groups to get feedback from them on what they would like to see as well as parental workshops and support groups have been planned and will be implemented from January 2014. A need for improvement in referral systems to partnering Ministries: many of the families in the programmes face complex situations which require intervention beyond the Mentorship Programme. For this challenge, members on the Inter-Ministerial Committee have been working assiduously to inform the NMP of available services and to fast track interventions and assistance in special cases. There is a lack of intervention strategies for higher risk youth: the average ages of youth in the Mentorship programme is 12-14 years; due to the limited staff and delays in moving the programme forward innovative strategies targeting the older higher risk youth have been delayed. We have encountered challenges in maintaining mentee motivation (matched & unmatched), addressing the needs of at-risk-youth requires access to other opportunities for youth to grow and build resilience. During the pilot phase it has been challenging to maintain mentee motivation while operationalising the programme. For this, The NMP has developed a curriculum of topics and activities to guide the Mentor to complete during the relationship. Limited programme awareness: notwithstanding the good work that is being done there is insufficient awareness of the programme, and the opportunities for citizens to become involved. We are currently embarking on an ongoing aggressive media campaign to be implemented from December 2013. On-going delays in the Tobago Mentorship programme - despite its best efforts the programme in Tobago is still in its embryonic phase. Although some inroads were made with the Chief Secretary to begin the programme there have been delays. These delays were compounded by the Tobago House of Assembly election. Efforts to start the programme have been reinitiated. The Tobago arm of the Mentorship programme will be in full effect in 2014 as plans are being put in place.

D. Impact and Sustainability

 10. What were the key benefits resulting from this initiative?
Cabinet approval for the implementation of the programme was at a cost of $5,758,946.00. The initial funding was for provided for the establishment staffing of the programme as well the launch of the programme. These funds were used to set up the office, conduct camps and hire staff. Additional support that was required was provided from existing resources in the Ministry of National Security. The number of staff employed from 2011 totalled ten (10) persons: Director, Coordinator, two Monitoring Officers II (one each for Trinidad and Tobago), three Monitoring Officers I, one camp coordinator and 2 business operations assistants. A camp coordinator was employed in the programme through the Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago. Resources and funding for the programme is provided by the Ministry of National Security through the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The key benefits are as follows. 314 Mentees and 177 Mentors benefited directly from the establishment of the programme. On a universal perspective, our Nation benefits from the support we provide to our clients. This is more qualitative in nature and can be seen as a long term investment as we work to develop upstanding citizens and strengthen youth to reach their full potential. On the Community level, whilst again not easy to measure, with the NMP reaching its target audience, persons now learn to take more responsibility for their actions and seek to empower themselves in a positive way. Over three hundred Families in numerous communities in both Trinidad and Tobago have benefitted from our support and interventions. The school system benefits because the youth enrolled in the programme are in the process of being re-directed, consequently, that will lead to an enhancement of their student population. Lastly, on the individual level, change and growth takes place ultimately affecting the different spheres of his/her life in a positive way and feeds back into becoming an improved human being, adding to the national human capital and contributing to nation building. In essence, resources used for the National Mentorship Programme are well placed.
 11. Did the initiative improve integrity and/or accountability in public service? (If applicable)
The first two years of the National Mentorship Programme succeeded in establishing the preliminary infrastructure and provided lessons learnt that formed the basis for the programme to deliver meaningful change. However meaningful and sustainable change requires a minimum of five years and the provision of the required human and financial support to ensure a safe and effective mentorship programme. To do this, cabinet has granted approval for the continuance of the programme for an additional six (6) years following the completion of the two year pilot stage that was completed in April 2013. The programme will continue to be administrated and guided by the Inter Ministerial Committee. The new, reformulated committee will continue to use their expert advice and knowledge and utilize their respective pools of knowledge for the benefit of the programme. The programme’s budgetary allocations will come from the Ministry of National Security. In addition, services and aid will be made available by committee representatives offered by their ministries manifested through referrals. The National Mentorship Programme strives to become the benchmark and standard bearer for all mentoring programmes in Trinidad and Tobago. We aim to create a registry for all institutions and programmes involved in mentoring, to be implemented in early 2014. By doing this, we become an umbrella for mentoring organizations in the country. Additionally, The NMP has done advocacy with a number of organizations and have made presentations at schools, principals’ meetings, businesses, industries, career day booths, fairs, has represented at many community activities and has networked and partnered with other ministries and organizations forming linkages. Our initiative has been disseminated at the national level by the above mentioned activities and an important point to note on the Training that we provide to our mentors has also been extended to members of other organizations to enrich their respective institutions. With the distribution of The Procedural Manual, there is great opportunity for other groups to replicate our programme. There are plans, coupled with the National Registry of Mentoring Programmes to further disseminate the NMP to the wider society. The NMP is also embarking on a Regional Conference to discuss the issue of mentorship in the latter part of 2014. Such initiatives have since kept our programme running, allowing us to reach the hearts and homes of the nation fuelling positivity a spirit of volunteerism and a theme of mentoring.
 12. Were special measures put in place to ensure that the initiative benefits women and girls and improves the situation of the poorest and most vulnerable? (If applicable)
The National Mentorship Programme has had great achievements since its inception, as outlined in question 4 (b). We recognize that the impact of education and social intervention programmes are life long, but it takes time to gestate. Behaviour modification is a major indicator of success here and thus far, the Mentorship Programme has made quiet in-roads in the lives of those who have been in the programme. Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people – in the interests of their families, their communities and, indeed, themselves, is a form of early intervention and provides the greatest scope for successful crime prevention. The National Mentorship Programme, developed as a crime fighting initiative, is impacting the lives of our youth ‘at risk’ in Trinidad and Tobago who come into the programme. In light of our accomplishments to date, programme management recognizes that clearly there is still a huge amount to achieve and as such, a three year work plan 2013 – 2016 for the National Mentorship Programme has been developed, submitted to and approved by the Cabinet appointed Inter-Ministerial Committee. The staff of the Mentorship Unit continues to press on and looks forward to the expansion of the Unit, so that offices in South, Central and East can be established and appropriately staffed to facilitate greater effectiveness and influence. Providing structured one on one mentoring by trained adults, we offer specialized service to our nation’s youth with the intention to build the citizenry who will have a positive impact on our society. In addition, the thorough recruitment process Mentors undergo help in ensuring that only persons with the commitment to help other are chosen to be mentors. Another key element is that The National Mentorship programme has engaged in detailed monitoring and evaluation of the programme to determine its impact on the behaviours of at-risk youth. This consists of: Conducting pre and post-test mentoring assessment survey of Mentees beginning at the Mentee Orientation Camp via observation forms (pre & post-test data). Camp de-brief meetings have been held at the end of the camps to solicit feedback and recommendations from all camp personnel. Critical to the NMP is soliciting feedback from Mentors, Mentees and parents on the operations of the Programme and suggestions for improvement are done through facilitating Mentor/Mentee and parent /guardian feedback sessions. There were many lessons learnt throughout the mentoring journey. We identify the need for a recruitment drive re male volunteerism, facilitate heightened marketing & awareness of the Programme, the need to conduct parental workshops, create networks & connectivity with schools, namely Guidance Officers, develop a referral system with partnering Ministries, form partnerships with other Ministries, public and private Organizations e.g. COSTAATT, develop a plan for beyond the one year of mentoring, facilitate debriefing sessions & continued training, develop a plan to keep both matched & unmatched mentees motivated and create a curriculum for mentors. Additionally, we have learnt that there is a need to expand the mentoring type to include Team and Group and explore mixed gender one on one matching for female mentors and younger male mentees but maintain male to male match relationships with older male mentees. We also need to implement the non-cash recognition programme for mentors, develop and implement in-service and staff development training for all categories of NMP personnel, identify and collaborate with entities that have existing mentoring programmes and engage their services and establish relationships with youth interest groups such as Police Youth Clubs, Scouts and Girl Guides so as to engage prospective mentees in meaningful activities until they are matched.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   Ministry of National Security – National Mentorship Programme
Institution Type:   Government Department  
Contact Person:   Kathleen Joseph
Title:   Dirrector  
Telephone/ Fax:   1(868) 623-2441 ext 13121, Fax: (868) 623-1793
Institution's / Project's Website:  
E-mail:   kathleenjoseph@mns.gov.tt  
Address:   Ministry of National Security, Temple Court II 52-60 Abercromby Street
Postal Code:  
City:   Port of Spain
State/Province:  
Country:  

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