Forty young people on the move celebrate a high school milestone in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, 3 June 2026 – There were no caps tossed into the air, no packed auditorium and no formal graduation ceremony. Yet for forty young people on the move in Trinidad and Tobago, receiving their high school diplomas represented a significant achievement and a powerful reminder of what is possible when barriers to education are removed.

Gathering at United Nations House in Port of Spain, thirty-three graduates and their families came together to collect diplomas and celebrate the completion of studies that, for many, once seemed out of reach. Other graduates joined the celebration from abroad or will receive their diplomas separately, having already relocated to other countries or returned to Venezuela.

For children and adolescents who have migrated from Venezuela, continuing their education has not always been straightforward. Language barriers, financial pressures, displacement and limited access to formal schooling have disrupted learning and left many young people uncertain about their futures.

To help address these challenges, UNICEF, through a project co-funded by the European Union and UNHCR, supported access to the DAWERE online learning platform. The programme enabled young people to continue their studies, complete secondary-level education and gain qualifications that can open doors to further learning and employment opportunities.

Some graduates are already employed. Others are pursuing technical training, exploring entrepreneurship or considering university studies. Together, they represent a generation of young people determined to build brighter futures despite significant challenges.

Among them was Jesus, 17, originally from Anaco, Venezuela, who completed studies while developing technical skills in air conditioning and refrigeration.

“I am very happy today because I finally got my diploma,” he said. “The platform is a really good platform. Thanks to UNICEF too for giving me this opportunity. Right now I am hoping to go back to Venezuela to open some kind of business because I have finished my course in air conditioning and I am a certified technician.”

For Josemith, 19, the journey required perseverance.

“At the beginning, it was something new for me and I went through many difficulties,” she said. “But it reinforced my way of learning and, in the end, it was worth it.”

Now holding her diploma, Josemith is focused on continuing her education.

“My goal is to continue working and continue studying. I want to develop a career, and thanks to this diploma I can do it,” she said. “I am very grateful to everyone who made this possible, and I hope more people can benefit from it and make the most of it.”

Nineteen-year-old Dubraska Lira also sees her diploma as an important step towards achieving her ambitions.

“I am grateful for having had the opportunity to finish my studies,” she said. “If God allows me, I want to continue studying and go into criminal law. Because of this diploma and my studies, I can be closer to reaching my goals.”

Their stories are different, but they share a common thread: a determination to continue learning, support their families and build a better future despite the uncertainty that often accompanies displacement and migration.

The achievement highlights the importance of ensuring that children and young people on the move have access to quality learning opportunities regardless of their migration status or circumstances.

“I want to say a big congratulations. You have not only made your parents proud, you have also made yourselves proud because you have come this far,” said Maryam Abdu, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean (ai).

“I hope this certificate will help take you to even greater places; that you will go on to universities, become professionals and contribute to both your country and this country. UNICEF is very happy to have been part of this journey, and you can continue to count on us to support children everywhere because we do not want any child to be left behind.”

As the graduates move into adulthood, their diplomas represent more than an academic accomplishment. They are a pathway to greater opportunity, opening doors to employment, further education and increased independence.