GREAT BAY--The Department of Youth, under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS), has launched a series of training sessions during Children’s Rights Month to strengthen the knowledge and skills of teachers, youth leaders and organizations working with children in St. Maarten.
The initiative focuses on helping professionals better understand the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and apply its principles in their daily interactions with children and young people.
The first training session, titled “Understanding and Applying the UNCRC in Youth-Serving Organizations,” was scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2026, targeting non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community schools and afterschool programs.
Participants are being introduced to practical approaches for incorporating children’s rights and responsibilities into educational programs, youth activities and the services provided by organizations that work directly with young people.
The training is intended to move beyond general awareness of children's rights by equipping participants with tools they can use in their professional environments to promote the protection, participation and well-being of children.
A follow-up session is scheduled for Monday, November 23, 2026, at the Government Administration Building. Participants who successfully complete both sessions will receive certificates of participation. The first session was also scheduled to take place at the Government Administration Building.
According to the Department of Youth, the training forms part of its wider activities commemorating Children’s Rights Month, which emphasizes the shared responsibility of government, schools, families and community organizations in protecting and promoting the rights of children.
The department is seeking to encourage an approach in which children’s rights are not only understood as international principles but are incorporated into the everyday practices of professionals responsible for their care, education and development.
The training series will continue into 2027, with additional sessions planned for other organizations and professionals serving young people across St. Maarten.
Further details about upcoming training opportunities will be announced by the Department of Youth.
