Investing In Sport as a Medium for Change In East Port Of Spain

Sport PLUS, an initiative of the East Port of Spain Development Company Limited recently celebrated the graduation of its first cycle of successful partcipants. The event took place at the Laventille Community Complex  which served as its home base for the six (6) month duration of the programme and which saw an intitial registration of over fifty (50) participants, thirteen (13) of which successfully graduated. Sports Plus is a programe designed to effect personal transformation in the lives of youth through the medium of sports.

As part of its holistic approach, participants covered a wide variety of disciplines including; comunication, conflict resolution, kicking AIDS out, team building, stress management, sports education and communiy relations amongst others. Football, basketball, swimiming and golf formed the core sporting discilpines offering particpants professional coaching and training. Even more, succesful participants were certified as "Swimmers" at Beginner and Intermidiate Levels by the La Joya swimming pool through swimming coach Andrew eligon, some participants were also offered scholarships. Being certified as "Golf Practitioners" by the Mellennium Lakes Golf & Country Club was also a high point of the programme as a three (3) month experince opened eyes and minds allowing particpants to explore a sporrting discipline that was not foremost in their minds . Three participants who displayed exceptional skills in golf were also offered one (1) year free membership at the Mellenium Golf Club. Presenting the certificates and honourary membership was head coah of golf Ricky Campbell. All  thirteen (13) successful participants are also now certified as "Peer Educators" by Kicking Aids Out international Network.

The Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE) is the organisation that acted on behalf of the East Port of Spain Development Company Limited by implementing all aspects of the programe. Ms. Irtha Daniel; Communications Officer of TTASPE reiterated their commitment and pleged their unequovocal support. Resources were sourced from several professional organizations in an effort to allow participants the benefit of having a wide variety of experiences.

Sports Plus is expected to be implented in several communities throughout East Port of Spain and is geared towards youngmen and women between the ages of 15 to 25 who reside in the area. Admission to the programme is free.