Imagine being uprooted from your home or being forced to move to a different country because of your country’s economic or sociopolitical instabilities. Imagine leaving your family, friends, country and culture behind to move to a new place where uncertainty awaits you. That process is not easy and results in anxiety and worry, especially when you don’t have the resources to support yourself when you arrive. You will have to look for food, shelter and work to sustain yourself. Your life completely changes and survival becomes your priority.
Now imagine being a child in this situation. A child uprooted and taken out of school. A child moving to a completely new place, living day to day without access to education. A child without a safe space to grow, learn and play. That is the reality of many migrant and refugee children across the globe and is especially prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is estimated that by the end of 2023, Venezuelan migrants and refugees will make up 3% of the population of Trinidad & Tobago and to date, Venezuelan children have not been allowed to enter schools in our beloved twin island state. While I understand that there are political sensitivities around the Venezuelan migration to Trinidad, I cannot help but think how unfair it is for the children to suffer. Education is an international human right for children and to deny them access is not only a breach of their rights but also an infringement on moral and social Justice.
I saw the impact of this when we recently held a hamper drive for the poor and vulnerable within a community, giving to both locals and migrants. The distribution was held near a primary school and there was one particular migrant family that came seeking assistance with their daughter who was no more than 6 years of age. During the process, their daughter sat looking into the courtyard of the primary school, watching the children play in their uniforms and her face was filled with sadness. It is during these situations, that I realize how much we are failing the children and as a result how much we are failing ourselves.
Why is that child not in school ?
I refuse to believe that the process is so difficult that a creative solution cannot be put forth for children to access education. Education which is a basic human need. People make excuses but none will ever be valid enough to deny a child education and protection. Are we denying a child the opportunity to socialize, to play and to learn?Have we really grown so detached that we can’t see why this is important ?
I hope that one day society can reawaken and push forward in the right direction. I pray that we will be able to think beyond the box and find ways to change and improve the community and society that we live within. Thank you to those who work tirelessly for the children of our society and I remain in blissful hope that every child will be granted the opportunity to go to school.
Darrion M. Narine was born in Trinidad and Tobago but considers himself to be a global citizen. He is a social development specialist and a performing artiste. He is currently the programme manager of the Archdiocese’s Ministry for Migrants, working alongside UN agencies and grassroots organizations in Trinidad and Tobago to cater towards the educational, psychosocial, health and physiological needs of over 30,000 migrants and refugees.
Darrion was also the chair of the CHOGM CYF taskforce responsible for executing the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2022. He managed a 21-member taskforce made up of people from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The taskforce was responsible for the planning, programme development and execution of the CHOGM CYF 2022 which hosted over 500 delegate from across the globe. His work in these fields have allowed him to develop his resource mobilization skills since he has been able to raise additional money for the support of several projects. which he manages.
Additionally, Darrion was the former Vice Chairperson for Inclusion and Engagement on the Commonwealth Youth Council, which serves 1.2 billion youth across the globe. His work focused on youth development, global socio-economic development and global social policy development. During his tenure he was able to launch and co-partner on several programmes. He co-founded the RACE campaign which allowed for healthy conversations around race and race relations. He was also a key founding director of the Youth Voice Matters campaign which promoted the increase in youth political participation. He holds a BSc in Psychology (Special) with a minor in Theatre Arts and a MA in Cultural Studies from the University of the West Indies (U.W.I). He is the former President of the U.W.I Guild of Students 2018/19, where he represented the students at all major university meetings and external advocacy movements and is a National Youth Award recipient for Leadership from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to this, he was a board member on the Global Coalition for Youth Employment (under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and National Service) and has served as a board member on the Chancellor’s Commission on Governance for the University of the West Indies reviewing the University’s governance structures and making recommendations for overall improvement of its systems and operations.
Darrion is also a cultural advocate, poet , writer and performer. He has taught techniques in performance, public speaking drama and networking to hundreds of young people across Trinidad and Tobago. He has also done skills development training at various schools across the country and region. Furthermore, he is an actor with DCShell Theatre, a singer, a poet and a writer. He has a collection of music and poetry and has performed across the globe. He believes strongly that education is liberation, and the key to a progressive population.
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