NYPF
A disturbing trend that the business community in Trinidad and Tobago is observing is that the country’s competitiveness, productivity and work ethic are slipping. If this trend is to be reversed, and Trinidad and Tobago is to achieve sustainable national development, our young people must be seriously included in the dialogue, so that they enter the world of work with a better mindset in terms of productivity — the only sustainable engine of wealth and job creation.
In 2009, AmCham T&T with its Trade and Investment Committee, founded National Youth Productivity Forum as a vehicle which will guide a large number of secondary and tertiary level students in the direction of critical thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation. The Forum won the coveted ‘Most Creative AmCham Program’ award from among the 23 member Chambers which comprise the American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America (AACCLA) for the project’s vision and ingenuity.
This year the 2010/2011 Forum theme is ‘Entrepreneurship and Innovation’ — fundamental practices that are vital to business success and sustainability. AmCham T&T strongly believes that critical and creative thinking are important everyday skills like using a computer or driving a car. In this regard, the Forum has partnered with the University of the Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) to enhance the critical thinking skills of teachers, students, principals and school supervisors.
Participation
Schools and students can participate in three ways in the Forum: via traditional discussion rounds, an E-Forum and via submitting a project. Traditional discussion rounds - Twenty schools, from five geographic zones, will participate in the preliminary rounds and there will be a final round comprising the winners of each perspective. It is instructive to note that in each zone, four schools will be representing the perspectives of government, labour, business and civil society respectively, so that the ideas, arguments and solutions enunciated will be a distillation of views from all aspects of society. AmCham T&T has created a training DVD that will help guide the participating students and teachers. The rounds will begin in January and end in March. REGISTER HERE
The second way to participate is via the E-Forum through AmCham’s facebook page. Students are required to respond in two to three well researched paragraphs to questions posed by AmCham T&T. Students are also required to respond to comments made by others on their initial contribution. The school who has the most students signed up within a specified time frame will receive a prize. REGISTER HERE
The third way to participate is by submitting a School Project that exemplifies productivity and/or entrepreneurship and innovation and makes significant impact on the school and/or the wider community. Registration forms and full details to participate in the NYPF School Project are available on the AmCham T&T website at http://www.amchamtt.com/NationalYouthForum/. REGISTER HERE
AmCham T&T extends our sincere thanks to the companies who have already pledged financial and other support to this laudable initiative. We also look forward to the active support from the business community.
AmCham T&T extends our sincere thanks to all the schools that participated in the Forum 2009/10. We recognize the challenges they encountered juggling various commitments, and commend them for their dedication, commitment and perseverance. Special commendation must also be given to the teachers and principals for the tremendous support they gave to the students to ensure that they not only researched and spoke about productivity, but that they actually practiced this ideal. And finally, AmCham T&T would like to thank the business community, who like us, do not subscribe to the notion that “all is lost”. We believe that this will only become a reality if we choose to do nothing.
To ensure that this laudable and essential developmental initiative is sustained and continues to create an impact on the landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, we look forward to the active support, financially and otherwise, of our members and other patriotic Trinidadians and Tobagonians.