And, how are they able to achieve this? Through the implementation of a Chess Camp at the Beetham Gardens Police Youth Club. The holiday camp is in its tenth year running and is part and parcel of a Crime Prevention Strategy co-ordinated by retired Police Inspector Sheila Prince.
About 33 children enrolled in this year’s programme — “Investing in intelligence, creating critical thinkers,” which began last week Monday. They are being taught to play chess, and table etiquette, including how to set a table and play music instruments.
The camp’s co-ordinator Prince said the chess camp is geared towards raising the standard of the children who live in Beetham, which is deemed a “hot spot” area and also carries a “certain stigma.” “I am trying to make a difference. Normally there would be sports camp, anger management, conflict resolution but these children deserve more than that, they need to be trained in critical thinking, solutions to problem, meditating and making good judgement.
“This chess camp will enable them to raise their value in terms of self-esteem, knowing that they can do it too and not only children from Bishop’s or St Anthony’s College. “It will also raise their standard and they will be allowed to go out into different communities to interact with other children from a higher class and play chess with them, in so doing they will appreciate each other more and appreciate each other lifestyles,” Prince added.
This is the first of its kind in Beetham and Prince promises it to be empowering to the children, “it seeks to equip the kids with the tools to be critical thinkers in today’s society, and also providing an avenue to develop the holistic individual — Knowledge, Intellectual Development, Social Skills (KIDS). Chess seeks to empower through — all keys to being productive citizens.”
Prince retired from the TT Police Service last year after serving 35 years, mostly in community policing.
Although retired, Prince chooses to leave her home in central every day to go to the youth club to work along with the children of Beetham, describing it as a “burning desire from within, a true passion to work with children from these types of areas, like Beetham.” Besides the annual summer camp, Prince is there every Saturday from 3 pm, working to develop the minds of the young ones. She sees the club as a proactive approach for crime, “I have developed this youth club as a proactive approach to crime. The children can come here and I can help them develop. One of the things, I have incorporated is music, which helps relaxes a child. They are also taught the theory of music, writing of music and the different types of musical instruments. This can also help them develop a career in music which can extend internationally. I can say something for sure that I know 33 children are not doing crime because they are here with me.”
The club, which has been established since 2000 and has mentored 500 children, has had several successes so far, including one of the children who is now a Special Reserve Officer in the TT Police Service. The club has placed third place in the Music Festival and also copped first place in an essay writing competition.
Prince said she sees a difference with the children, who attend the club and thinks that “they are starving to be something different in society. They want a better way of life. The reality of the Beetham is that people are always fighting for survival. There is so much lawlessness among the young people because of the fact that there are no proper role models.”
“That is why I am doing what I am doing here, trying to instill these good qualities, values and morals so that they can develop into law-abiding citizens, knowing to obey rules, to appreciate something good and not because who they live around and the unhealthy environment they may be exposed to,” she added.
When asked what is the reaction of the parents to the club and her programmes, Prince replied: “The parents are happy that their children are here but you know living one thing and saying one thing are two different things. These children are taught to love their parents but at the same time know right from wrong.”
She added that she felt parents needed to be more to their children rather than just a biological parent. “It is difficult for parents in the area, while I empathise with them, it is because of the struggle with the stigma attached, like not being able to get a job. There are some good parents but I feel that the parents need to do more towards parenting, not only the biological part of it, giving birth to.
A child, they need to be responsible and make sure that the children adhere to rules, they know right from wrong, spirituality, not the part where lawlessness exists in the home where the child sees a gun on the table, coke under the step or stolen goods all around them. The children need to be kept away from a life of crime and learn to work hard for their money, parents should be examples to their children. They need to also instill discipline in them.”