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Story and photo courtesy
Darendra Boodram, Programme Coordinator, Samaritan Movement
In Trinidad and Tobago, the ongoing humanitarian situation involving Venezuelan migrants continues to shape national discourse. Over the past several years, thousands have arrived fleeing economic collapse, political instability, and shortages of necessities in Venezuela. Among them are many children, often navigating displacement, uncertainty, and trauma at formative stages of their development.
Reporting from local media outlets highlighted a critical concern: a significant number of migrant children remain outside of the formal education system. Barriers include documentation challenges, fear of detention or deportation among undocumented families, language differences, and limited institutional capacity. Even where policy frameworks allow for access, fear and social stigma continue to discourage consistent school attendance.
These conditions create a gap that extends beyond academics. Children who are excluded from structured, supportive environments are at a heightened risk of social isolation, exploitation, and the long-term effects of unaddressed trauma.
It is within this context that Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) have become not just beneficial, but essential.
CFSs exist across the country and are operated by a range of organisations and agencies working with migrant and vulnerable children. The Archdiocese’s Ministry for Migrants and Refugees (AMMR), in collaboration with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), operates four of these spaces.
Collectively, CFSs are designed to provide psychosocial support, informal education, and a sense of safety and belonging for children, regardless of their migration status.
While not a substitute for formal schooling, CFSs offer structured, nurturing environments where children can continue learning, build social connections, and begin to process their experiences in healthy ways.
On Saturday, March 14, at the Catholic Bible Institute, two sessions, conducted in both English and Spanish, were held for Level 1 Trauma-Informed Training. A total of 47 participants attended, representing CFSs from across the country, including both Catholic and non-Catholic spaces, as well as the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, UNICEF, and the Heroes Foundation.
The training addressed foundational concepts critical to working with vulnerable children. Participants explored the nature of trauma and toxic stress, particularly as it manifests in displaced populations.
Emphasis was placed on understanding the six core trauma-informed principles: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. Facilitators also engaged in practical exercises, learning grounding and regulation techniques that can be applied directly within CFSs settings.
Importantly, the sessions created space for facilitators to reflect on the lived realities they encounter daily, sharing stories of resilience, but also of fear, instability, and unmet needs. These reflections reinforce the urgency of equipping caregivers and volunteers with the tools to respond effectively and compassionately.
Feedback from participants highlighted the immediate applicability of the training. Many noted the importance of implementing simple but impactful regulation strategies such as guided breathing, grounding exercises, and physical activities like tiptoeing or rocking. These techniques help children regain a sense of control and safety. As migration continues to shape the social fabric of Trinidad and Tobago, responses must move beyond policy into practice, into spaces where dignity is restored and humanity is affirmed.
We are reminded again of the words of Pope Francis:
“It is necessary to respond to the globalisation of migration with the globalisation of charity and cooperation, in such a way as to make the conditions for migrants more humane.”
The Samaritan Movement remains committed to this call, working to build a compassionate and hopeful nation through care, accompaniment, and action. By strengthening CFSs and investing in trauma-informed approaches, we are not only supporting migrant children; we are shaping a more just and humane society for all.
To learn more about the Samaritan Movement, visit www.samaritanmovement.org or contact us via email at samaritanmovement@catholictt.org
“Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and men who leave or are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more” – Pope Francis, Message for the 2014 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 24, 2013.
