Psychosocial, Art and Sports Model for Peacebuilding (PASMP) 

This Psychosocial, Art and Sports Model for Peacebuilding (PASMP) project supports young women in care who have been impacted by violent and potentially traumatic events in their lives. It builds on lessons learned from previous MHPSS projects locally. It provides an innovative merging of community mapping, psychosocial assessments, art and sports therapy, and activities to help with team building, anger management, conflict resolution, countering adverse sentiments and more. This methodology helps to first build trust with the participants before launching into a 4-month curriculum that provides participants with access to knowledge for empowerment and to better cope with the mental health aspects of the troubling and violent environments to which they have been exposed. The program's interdisciplinary approach, crafted by experts in mental health, peace studies, and art and sports therapy, is not a pilot but rather an opportunity to demonstrate a proof of concept for UNDP’s MHPSS offerings and methodology in Trinidad and Tobago. The project's anticipated impact includes: 1) Helping to heal individuals and give them tools to respond to the adverse events that have impacted their lives. 2) Providing young people with the holistic building blocks for understanding and supporting their contribution to building long-term sustainable peace in their communities and broader society. 3) It also includes the development of a peace caravan, which will visit other locations and communities and thereby introduce successful graduates from the initiative to connect with and educate other young people to share their own stories and help to encourage more participants to participate in MHPSS initiatives.

Fast Facts 

Value of Project in USD

$50,000.00

Duration

Six (6) months

Donor

UNDP-DPPA Joint Programme

Implementing Partners

UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), OPM- Gender and Child Affairs Division, Ryu Dan Empowerment Foundation (NGO), Chosen Hands (NGO)

Key Milestones & Outputs Achieved  

• Meeting with the Management team at St. Jude’s for interviews and site visit ‘Kick Off’ meeting for the MHPSS- PSASM
• Baseline Mapping of the St. Jude’s School for Girls to determine the scope and timelines for the project.
• Initiation of St. Jude’s focus groups with staff and residents
• Assessment of 25 girls and staff at St. Jude’s

In societies, such as Trinidad and Tobago, with high homicide and crime rates young people can be impacted by violent and potentially traumatic events in their lives. These events can cause long-term distress and impact a person’s ability to cope with adversity and conflict. This MHPSS project is developed to help heal individuals and give them tools to respond to the adverse events that have impacted their lives and support their contribution to building long-term sustainable peace in their communities and broader society.

• To generate feelings of hope and emotional healing and support for young persons, specifically vulnerable or at-risk youth.
• To help young people view themselves in new and positive ways, while discovering hidden skills and talents and providing opportunities. 

Project Team Members

Mr. Alan Cooper: Project Coordinator

Mr. Dylan Kerrigan: Project Coordinator

Mr. Kwesi Hamilton: Youth advisor

Mrs. Amanda Ackbarali-Ramdial: Project Advisor 

Ms. Latoya Tracey: Psychosocial consultant

Ms. Anika Plowden-Corentin: Art Facilitator 

Mr. Marva John-Logan: Sport Facilitator