VOX POP: We asked our young people three questions:

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing young people in T and T?
2. Despite the challenges what gives you hope?
3. What is the first word or feeling that comes to mind when you think about our nation?

Here are their responses:

A deep longing

Emily J Instagram @_.iamemily_

I think many young people are carrying a quiet sense of loneliness. The pandemic changed how we connect, and for many, it interrupted friendships, community, and even faith. Now there’s a deep longing to belong—to be seen, heard, and loved for who we are. We don’t just need more entertainment or social media; we need authentic communities where we can grow, ask difficult questions, and discover purpose together.

What gives me hope is that, despite everything, there are still young people who want to make a difference. I see it in those who volunteer, serve others, speak up for what’s right, and seek God. Change doesn’t begin with governments. It begins with people who choose integrity, compassion, and hope every day.

LONGING—I think many people are longing for a country marked by greater unity, integrity, and hope.

Outlook? Gloomy

Taye Coryatt Instagram: @tayefromgrande

I think the biggest problem facing young people is the lack of stable representation from our leaders. The example being set is very worrying and not appealing and motivating to look at. What gives me hope is that many young people don’t like the example they see at the top and want to be the change they want to see.

GLOOMY. I choose this word because of the uncertainties that we face as a nation not only the younger generations but the older ones as well.

A home like no other

J’Lani De Four Instagram: @jlani.de4_

I sometimes wonder if young people are carrying this constant feeling that they’re falling behind, to the point where they’re no longer willing to try or put in the work. Our relationship with time is shifting as our attention spans get shorter, and I wonder if, as a result, we’re losing some of our ability to persevere, be patient, and push beyond our comfort zones.

What gives me hope is seeing young people becoming more vocal and engaged, particularly when it comes to politics. I think there’s a growing sense of political consciousness among young people, and more are willing to speak up, ask questions, and advocate for what they believe is right. That willingness to use our voices gives me hope for the future of the country.

It really is HOME. There really is no other place like Trinidad and Tobago. We’re not perfect, and we certainly have our challenges, but there’s something about this place that will always be home to me. The people, the culture, the music, the ability to make humour out of anything. I’m forever grateful for where I come from, and I’m proud to call myself a Trini.

Love…but frustrated, too

Mafiya J

I think one of the biggest challenges facing young people is the lack of genuine community and connection. We are probably more connected than ever through social media, yet genuine friendships, loyalty and simply showing up for one another can sometimes feel difficult to find.

Young people need genuine community. We need people who will celebrate with us, correct us, support us, stand beside us, and sometimes stand up for us. I think rebuilding that sense of community and responsibility for one another is one of the challenges of our generation.

There’s a silly saying we have: ‘God is a Trini.’ Something about that saying captures what gives me hope about Trinidad and Tobago. There is a kind of optimism in us. We lime, we make jokes, we help one another, we pray, we complain about everything, and somehow, we still believe things will work themselves out.

Sometimes that carefree attitude can become complacency, but there is also something beautiful about our resilience. Even when things seem bleak, Trinbagonians have this ability to find joy and keep going.

When I see young people willing to speak up, organise, challenge what is wrong and stand beside one another, it reminds me that there are still people who care deeply about what Trinidad and Tobago can become.

I feel conflicted because I love Trinidad and Tobago deeply. There is so much about us that is beautiful. Our culture, humour, warmth, food, music, faith and that unmistakable Trini spirit. There really is nowhere quite like home.

But at the same time, I am concerned about what we are becoming accustomed to. Crime, injustice, corruption, division and even the way we sometimes watch something terrible happen and simply move on to the next story.

So, when I think about Trinidad and Tobago, I feel both LOVE AND FRUSTRATION.

New watchwords: indiscipline, intolerance, corruption

Triston N Gollop

Isolation. Ironically, in an era where persons are more interconnected than ever, never before has society seen such disconnect. No longer are we taught the merit of community and communal achievement, but rather the importance of independence and the need to have our own.

We are celebrated for our ability to stand on our own two feet, and even more so when we have learnt to stand alone. We have developed a culture that glorifies ‘the lone wolf’, that glorifies isolation.

Despite the perpetuation of the aforementioned, I believe it has opened the doors to greater conversations on mental health. Conversations that were seen as taboo in older generations are now being challenged by the younger. This gives me hope.

Even though our young persons may be faced with greater isolation, this has presented an opportunity for more honest dialogue within our families, within our friendships, within our workspaces. An opportunity to shift our perception on the importance of community and communication. The importance of being afforded spaces to share without fear. I am hopeful that given the support of the Catholic Commissions, their collective work can bolster the gradual shift we are witnessing, and consequently, aiding in the fortification of our country.

Three words come to mind: INDISCIPLINE, INTOLERANCE AND CORRUPTION. The antithesis to our nation’s watchwords. That needs no explanation.