Horizons’ programme launched with Canadian High Commission

Stories and photos courtesy

Darendra Boodram, Programme Coordinator

The Samaritan Movement marked a significant milestone with the Wednesday, April 1 launch of the ‘Horizons’ programme, a new diplomatic youth engagement initiative designed to expand opportunity, strengthen resilience, and deepen relational support for young people across Trinidad and Tobago.

The inaugural visit, hosted at the St Dominic’s Children’s Home, welcomed representatives from the Canadian High Commission. This first engagement signals the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Samaritan Movement and the diplomatic corps, one that reimagines diplomacy as a relational and developmental presence in the lives of children and youth.

‘Horizons’ emerged in response to a growing youth mental health crisis, where increased exposure to trauma and limited psychosocial support systems continue to affect young people’s well-being.

Grounded in global research on adverse childhood experiences and resilience, the programme is built on a clear premise that while trauma increases vulnerability, meaningful relationships can foster healing, belonging, and long-term positive outcomes.

Through structured engagements with diplomatic missions, ‘Horizons’ aims to connect students in schools and children’s Homes to the wider world. The Canadian High Commission team delivered an interactive and engaging session, introducing participants to Canada’s geography, languages, culture, and national identity. The experience encouraged curiosity, dialogue, and active participation, offering young people both knowledge and a broader sense of possibility.

Beyond individual visits, the programme is designed as a sustained platform for cultural exchange and youth development. Its components include diplomatic visit series, cultural engagements where students showcase their own talents and identities, and an ‘Ambassador for a Day’ experience that immerses selected participants in diplomatic environments. ‘Horizons’ ultimately represents more than a programme. It is a strategic and human-centred approach to development, one that affirms to every young person that they belong, that they matter, and that their future extends far beyond present circumstances.