The idea of operating in silos is not how PTCI envisions reaching the wider community in Barbados. Therefore, whenever called upon to assist in ways that fall within the mandate of the charity, a hand is extended.
Over the years partnerships continued to be forged that assisted in reaching the young people of our nation. Contributions, even though not financial, allowed PTCI to achieve goals set and provided support and experiences that transformed the thinking of those youth who participated in their activities.
One of these activities included PTCI’s partnership with Aganar and the Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) which facilitated tours for students from the St. Luke’s division of the BVTB. A group of female Office Procedures students were treated to a lunch teaching session at the Crystal Cove Hotel on setting up a full layout for a dinner reception, and table etiquette for fine dining. One student in sharing during the tour stated: “Mam, I’m so nervous, I’ve never eaten at a place like this before, I don’t know which one of the forks to use or what to do…”
Additionally, the male Carpentry students, took a trip to Lime Grove, St. James and had lunch at Opa Restaurant. The aim of this tour was for students to have the Lime Grove experience and to dispel their misconceptions of ‘them vs us’, after these males shared that the facilities were not welcoming to persons of low social and economic backgrounds. At the end students were heard sharing on their experience at Lime Grove, one student said: “Mam, I dint know dat yah cud afford tah eat or buy things down hey, de prices is de same as Opa at Sky Mall or Cave Shepherd in Bridgetown…”
