Young Innovators Graduate at The DIA Lab in Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – July 27th. The DIA Lab in Trinidad and Tobago celebrated the graduation ceremony of 72 young Trinbagonians. The DIA training program seeks to inspire young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions that generate livelihood opportunities and economic development within their communities. 

The graduation was held during a virtual ceremony. Attendees included the Honorable Foster Cummings, Minister of Youth Development and National Service; Mrs. Patricia De Leon Henry, National Director, National Social Development Programme, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services; Mrs. Beverly Reid-Samuel, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport and Community Development; Mr. Quimey  Del  Rio, DIA Senior Project Officer,  The Trust for the Americas; Ms. Diane Jebodhsingh, Operations and Technology Head, Citi Trinidad and Tobago; and Members of the Board of Management, CARIRI; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hans Erich Schulz; Mr. Meghnath Gosein, Executive Manager Corporate Services and Mrs. Denise Ferguson, Human Resources Manager, CARIRI. 

The Minister of Youth Development and National Service, The Honorable Foster Cummings commented during his speech at the ceremony: "The DIA Youth Innovation Lab is an exemplary program for youth, as it takes a holistic approach toward improving the lives of young people around the world. It is evident that in conceptualizing this initiative, The Trust for the Americas took into consideration the various issues young people face and created a solution-oriented Program." 

Rodrigo Iriani, DIA Senior Program Manager at The Trust for the Americas closed the ceremony by stating: “The DIA Lab Trinidad and Tobago is a safe space, for direct beneficiaries, the youth of Trinidad and Tobago, and for the communities. This is a training space and a place in which everyone is invited to use and benefit from technology."  

The DIA Lab Trinidad and Tobago is one of the latest labs of the “Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA)” Program of The Trust for the Americas. With financial support from Citi Foundation, the Lab is implemented by The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI). The Lab empowers youth, particularly at-risk youth through access to state-of-the-art technology training, collaboration spaces, specialized curricula, mentorship, and seed funding grants. To learn more about the DIA Innovation Lab Trinidad and Tobago please visit: https://www.trustfortheamericas.org/programs/dia/dia-urban-lab-youth-innovation-trinidad-and-tobago  

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About  The  Trust for the Americas:   

The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our initiatives, implemented through local partner organizations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities as well as to foster innovation in vulnerable communities in the hemisphere. To this end, The Trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance. The Trust has offices in Washington, D.C., Colombia, and Canada.   

More information:  www.trustfortheamericas.org    

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