TEEN is empowering migrant families in Trinidad and Tobago

“My children are impressing me. They make me so proud!” said Juan, a smiling father who fixes electronic devices to earn a living.

Juan and many other parents participated in the first 2025 distribution of Programa Transferencia de Efectivo para la Educación de los Niños (TEEN) that took place 29th and 30th January in Trinidad and Tobago. TEEN is a cash transfer programme created to offer crucial financial support to migrant families. This assistance specifically targets those with children who have recently been admitted to national schools or enrolled in Dawere, an innovative, accredited online academic platform. 

“When we watch general knowledge quizzes online, they answer quickly and always win! I am happy because they enjoy learning, and I know they will be able to have a great future’’. Juan added.

Dedicated distribution centres were recently set up at four key locations across the country to ensure families receive the financial support they need.

Alexander, the head of a five-member household was another father who was grateful for the support. Two of Alexander's children are studying online, one is in informal primary education and his oldest son, who is in 6th grade will soon graduate. The father shared that his family has been enrolled in TEEN for two years, which has helped cover educational expenses that would have otherwise been difficult to manage.

"This money will be helpful for the family," said Juan. "Now, we will be able to buy the school supplies that the children needed - books, uniforms, and shoes for my children who keep growing."

In 2023, UNICEF and the government of Trinidad and Tobago established the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB). It is a tool to identify and quantify, in a particular context and for a specific moment in time, the average cost of the regular or seasonal basic needs of a household that can be covered through the local market. This study calculated the basic expenses of nationals in Trinidad and Tobago separately, accounting for price differences between the islands, as well as the expenses of migrant/refugee individuals and households. Among many findings, it was noticed that the average expenditure cost of migrant/refugee per month was higher than nationals.  A national household has on average 3.6 members while a migrant/refugee average household has 5 members. Higher expenses for non-national families include renting, due to the size of the family, and private health-care services.

"After paying rent with a low salary, the amount needed to raise children is far from sufficient." said Emilia, a hardworking mother of three children. Her first daughter is graduating this year with excellent grades. “Together with my husband, we work hard to give everything to our children. Our youngest child has autism. With this cash transfer we will buy food for his special diet… as well as school supplies for my daughter who loves to study.” The amount provided to each household is determined by the number of children in the household. As such, even Emilia's youngest child who is autistic and not yet in school, is able to benefit from the cash support.

During the programme’s monitoring review in 2024, it was discovered that 88% of people felt better equipped to meet their children's educational needs after receiving the cash. TEEN is implemented through the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, and co-funded by UNICEF. With the completion of two more distributions for this year, the programme is expected to reach 210 families nationwide.

We have learned that investing in families is investing in the future. Humanitarian aid plays a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering the next generation to achieve their full potential. Let us continue to champion these efforts, recognizing that when families get support to be stronger, every child gets the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their nationality or economic background.