Shaping tomorrow: The Servol programmes in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

This book is an attempt to describe the work of Servol, a non-governmental organization (NGO) working in Trinidad and Tobago in the areas of preschool education and adolescent training. Gerry Pantin started the Servol organization in Port of Spain in 1970. Servol’s approach to helping disadvantaged people implies that one should never presume to know the needs of people; rather, one should ask them what their needs are. This approach produces attitudes of attentive listening and respectful intervention. The organization operates 31 Life Centres at which an Adolescent Development Programme (ADP), job skills training courses, parenting programmes, and training programmes for its own teachers are offered. The ADP course addresses spiritual, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional, and social needs in an attempt to help adolescents overcome such problems as low self-esteem. Servol works with the Ministry of Education and individual community boards of education to operate preschools. The Caribbean Life Centre in Port of Spain is a training centre for early childhood educators throughout the Caribbean. The participation of parents in preschools is welcomed. Servol’s hidden agenda is to influence parents and future parents.