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August 5, 2022
Trinidad and Tobago’s The Ryu Dan Empowerment Foundation has launched a ‘Girls Say Yes’ initiative to use sport to fight crime and violence in Enterprise, Chaguanas (approx. 13 miles or 22 km south-east of the country’s capital). Through netball and personal development training, program participants will become community “peace ambassadors.”
With the rise of unemployment and gangs, Enterprise has become a hotspot for crime over the years. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Chaguanas was the second most dangerous place in Trinidad and Tobago between November 2021 and April 2022. The borough accounted for 8% of all murders, sexual offenses, robberies and break-ins.
The Foundation is part of Ryu Dan Dojo, a Youth Empowerment Centre established in 2013 to provide programs to support the social, intellectual and physical development of youth in the Chaguanas Community. Its co-founder and executive director Shihan Marva John-Logan said the six-month youth mentorship initiative, which is supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), will encourage positive psychosocial change using netball to its 35 participants aged 12-20.
“We want these girls to be peace ambassadors not only with each other but also within their own homes which will transcend into their communities,” said John-Logan. “If these girls come together through a sport like netball and they work together for six months, learn the sport, apply the personal development training, get conflict resolution skills and personal development workshops, we can foster beautiful relationships.”
After an assessment, the Foundation found a considerable amount of division among girls. The report also found videos circulating on social media showing the girls involved in school fights. The initiative followed as a result of this initial assessment to help change this negative narrative.
The Foundation partnered with local organization, Dass Trace Youth Empowerment Committee, to create a netball team that would “bring together warring factions of the Enterprise community under one banner.”
“We know the research shows that women can play a crucial role in the prevention of crime and violence. The 35 participants hail from streets and alleys that are traditionally at odds with each other,” said John-Logan.
The initiative will also include mentoring in areas such as anger management, team building, etiquette and art therapy in addition to netball training. The girls will also work together to transform “neglected areas” in the Enterprise community, starting with Train Line Park, which will be renamed “Unity Park.”
“The girls will create signage and graphics communicating positive messages to be displayed on the park’s perimeter fence. This park will now represent a safe space where members of all groups within the community can harmoniously enjoy time with their families,” added John-Logan.
Source: News Day
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