FIFTY youngsters have benefited from a career and character development training programme hosted by the Tower of Power Movement (TOPM) at the Bethesda Multi-purpose Facility in Tobago on Tuesday.
Speaking with Newsday, TOPM’s Founder Khadija Ali-Samhoul Harris said the workshop, titled the T&T What’s Next National Youth Empowerment Programme (TTWNNYEP), was an interactive high-tech, high-touch experience.
She said a gamification application – that used elements of game-play as a teaching tool – was used to deliver an in-depth presentation about customer service for the island. It was meant to encourage a positive youth development approach which recognises that empowered young people need support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence.
Ali-Samhoul Harris said, “Using Positive Youth Development strategies, TOPM programmes give young people the chance to build skills; choose healthy values and lifestyles; (improve) leadership; and participate in their communities.
"The participants are engaged in learning customer service skills, along with building their character in terms of positively raising the altitude of their attitude, whilst dealing with people.”
[caption id="attachment_1009432" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ricia Ali-Lindow, left, communications practitioner, THA Division of Finance, Trade and Economy, gives remarks at Tower of Power Movement's youth development workshop at Bethesda Community Centre, Plymouth, Tobago on Tuesday. TOPM founder Khadija Ali-Samhoul Harris is looking on at right. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
Ali-Samhoul Harris said, at the workshop, assessment tools were used to help students identify their personality styles.
“Two participants were D-styled for dominant, two were I-Style for Influencer, two were S-styled for Steady and 16 were C-styled for compliant and consistency.
"Knowing your personality style enables you to identify your strengths and your weaknesses and prove better communication skills with others in your workplace or family life.
Participants then wrote positive affirmations that were posted on a "Dream Disc Big" wall.
Ali-Samhoul Harris said the workshop targeted 14 to 19-year-olds.
“This age group was targeted because they are at an impressionable age – dealing with peer pressure and transitioning out of adolescence. They are the ones going out into the world of work very soon, and can change the work dynamics of customer services if they are taught the right way through values and character development.”
The workshop featured a motivational speech from Suzanne Baynes of the Division of Education, Research & Technology, who spoke on failing forward to success.
Nicholai Peterkin, a 20-year-old entrepreneur and owner of Imports Performance House also spoke on his experiences in school life, working at a tender age for free to perfect skills in auto mechanics. He told participants they should never lose focus on their dreams.
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