The 40 under 40 programme, championed by the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, is an initiative that seeks to foster positive development of youth in secondary schools by creating a platform for students to interact and engage with young leaders.
The 2025 instalment was launched earlier today.
As the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service embarks on the 2025 edition of its 40 under 40 programme… national service influencers are ready to share their personal stories, on a broad spectrum of career related topics to inspire and encourage students in a transformative forum.
Through the powerful, real-life stories shared by your influencers, our students not only identified with the challenges you all overcame, but they also- they were able to be inspired to persevere despite their very own obstacles.
The 2024 instalment of the mentorship programme was considered a success, with scores of students benefitting from it. Speaking on behalf of the 2024 cohort of national service influencers, Former Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago, Faith Gillezeau, shared on last year’s programme.
“I couldn’t see the way the someone like me would fit into something as pivotal as this. But, to my surprise, every other mentor included also expressed a similar surprise. And, from each of with a background beyond the usual, our uncommon ground somehow made things fit. As diverse as we were, from performers to makeup artists, to published authors, one of who we have in our midst of course, we were united in the simple desire to serve our community.”
Line Minister Foster Cummings expressed excitement for the anticipated experience of and future impact on the youth participating in this year’s edition. The Minister noted that this programme is in alignment with pillars two and eight of the National Youth Policy, which focuses on harnessing youth social and intellectual capital, and seeks to create an enabling environment for positive youth development, respectively.
“Many times, our young people feel it difficult to open up and share their experiences, even with their parents or their siblings, or their peers. That is the real impact of the forty under forty national mentorship program. So, whether it is in the fashion industry or in the sports field, in the boardroom, on the farm- the skills, knowledge and connection they gain through this program, the lessons they learn about resilience, discipline and integrity will serve these young students for a lifetime.”
Minister Cummings thanked and commended the staff of MYDNS and the youth mentors on the positive impact of the programme.