The Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) hosted Phase 4 of the “Who’s Writing Your Story: Fear to Freedom” programme, on Thursday at the Riverside Plaza, Port of Spain.
The programme was designed as part of an intervention at the Rose Hill Primary RC School following an incident on October 31st, 2022, where the sound of gunfire was heard near the school. This phase of the programme is comprised of a two-day parental workshop that aims at empowering parents and improving their relationship with their children by providing them with the skills to communicate more effectively and cope with stress and trauma while fostering greater parental involvement in education.
Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, in giving remarks at the event, highlighted the importance of this aspect of the programme, “The parenting impact is an integral piece in the jigsaw puzzle that must be included in order for the picture to be complete. I cannot emphasize enough the critical role that a parent is expected to play in the life of a child.”
She went on to state that when parents relinquish their role the result is often juvenile delinquency and it is often at this time that “they require assistance, and that is precisely what this empowerment workshop is about.”
Head, Social Support, Ms. Aisha Corbie
Head, Social Support at the TTPS, Ms. Aisha Corbie discussed some of the key areas and topics the programme will cover. However, she also stressed the collaborative nature of the workshop noting to the parents present that, “You are the experts in your experience and we want to hear from you so that we can learn together as we all work together in this thing called the village.”
Principal of Rose Hill RC Primary School, Dr. Charlene Quamina, also gave remarks, expressing her thanks to the TTPS and VWSU for the work they had and continue to undertake.
The session included three presentations – Understanding Child Development, Trauma and Building Resilience, and the Importance of Parental Involvement in Education. The second instalment of the workshop will take place on Thursday 3rd August, 2023.