The Ministry of Culture and Community Development is pleased to announce its hallmark youth initiative, Trailblazers: The National Youth Apprenticeship and Community Development Programme 2025 with an inspirational opening at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) on Monday July 28th, 2025.
The Trailblazers Programme targets young people between the ages of 15 and 25 from at-risk and underserved communities across Trinidad and Tobago. In partnership with various government agencies and stakeholder organisations, this initiative aims to provide life skills development, paid apprenticeships, mentorship, and exposure to various sectors through networking events and field experiences, all designed to strengthen leadership, civic pride, and employment readiness in the nation’s youth.
Strategically aligned with key national priorities such as: Empowering Our Youth, Securing Our Future; Investing in Our Future Through Education; Social Stability and Support; and Community Development, the programme also supports the Government’s National Youth Empowerment & Transformation Plan, advancing its five pillars: Education, Employment, Engagement, Entrepreneurship, and Empowerment.
Through this alignment, Trailblazers creates clear pathways to sustainable employment, leadership, and national development by offering:
· Curriculum Delivery: Life skills and personal development training;
· School Management and Leadership: Focused on sustainable employment and growth;
· National Youth Employment Initiative (YEI): Career pathway opportunities;
· Youth Achievement Recognition: Celebrating youth accomplishments; and
· Paid Apprenticeships & Internships: Stipends and hands-on experience through organisational placements.
By combining these elements, the programme delivers both immediate impact and long-term value, fostering a generation of skilled, confident, and community-minded young leaders.
At its official start held in SAPA, youth representing communities across Trinidad, gathered for the registration and orientation session. This marked the beginning of the transformative eight-week programme, targeted to serve 300 young people across all regions of Trinidad and Tobago.
The orientation welcomed successful applicants with a feature address by the Honourable Michelle Benjamin, Minister of Culture and Community Development, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment and national development.
In an uplifting moment, Minister Benjamin emphasised that: “This programme isn’t just an investment in young people, it is an investment in our nation’s future. Trailblazers will equip each participant with the confidence, skills and support needed to become agents of change in their communities.”
The programme, which runs until September 20, 2025, includes two (2) weeks of intensive life skills training, followed by industry-based apprenticeships, and mentorship opportunities. To ensure participation from the youth of our sister isle, Tobago, dedicated training components have also been scheduled.
The Ministry of Culture and Community Development, in collaboration with core governmental and community partners, remains committed to ensuring that the Trailblazers: The National Youth Apprenticeship and Community Development Programme, plays a pivotal role in fostering a generation of purpose-driven and empowered youth across Trinidad and Tobago.
