Take the first turn to the left, off Gordon Street in Mount Hope, and you will find two buildings that represent true signs of hope to teenage girls and young adult women.
The "Fountain of Hope", one of the many projects of the Living Water Community, "is not a school" stresses Betty de Sousa, Administrative Co-ordinator of the facility, which conducts a training development programme with the emphasis on the developmental part of it. And although many of us, like myself, may not have heard of the Fountain of Hope it has been there for the past 13 years sending young women out into the world to bring the message of hope and possibility to others.
Consisting of two programmes, only for women, one started three years ago geared to teenagers 14-17 comprises a varied programme of basic sewing and sewing craft and a basic food and nutrition programme, with remedial Math and English thrown in along with some cosmetology and counselling. The other was started by the Living Water Ministry 13 years ago to help young adult women 18 to 28 years old who are sitting at home not doing anything and are also unskilled, is more specialised in either general sewing or food preparation, and also caters to whole-person development. Help with their English or Math is also available, and the ALTA literacy programme.
One could easily miss the turning into the track-like road leading to the large, warehouse-type building, loaned by a corporate friend of the Community, which can hold many more than the 21 teenagers who now attend classes, and since within recent times there has been a fall-off in adult registrations, there is no current senior programme.
De Sousa would welcome right now some of the youngsters from the closed Ibis School "but with help from the government. We have spoken to the Ministry of Education sometime ago and have also been visited by Minister Manohar Ramsaran, but nothing has happened." Space is not the problem at the Fountain, the major problem is that the buildings can get very hot during the day at which times the fans are of no use and the extractor fans make much too much noise, so any help whatever to aircondition the buildings would be greatly appreciated.
Teenagers of every religion are welcomed once they understand that prayer is an unconditional part of the programme, which starts at 8.30 with Morning Prayer: "We are Ecumenical in prayer, and each group has to think of ways to run morning prayer." The youngsters, made up of mainly those who have not suceeded in the 11 plus or have gone through post-primary and not gotten into a Secondary School, come from as far off east as Arima to Chaguanas in central Trinidad. With their parents, the teen-agers find their way to the Fountain through word of mouth: "Those who have been on the programme tell their friends, also the Social Workers at Port of Spain General and Mount Hope Hospitals recommend us" says de Sousa, who is ably assisted in the office by Stephanie Emamali.
Since the Fountain is not a registered school, the emphasis is on development of the whole person. "Young ladies come here extremely low in self esteem, thinking of themselves as failures" laments de Sousa "we want them to leave as Children of God aware that they are very special and have something to contribute to society. We have seen tremendous changes as they come through the programme which lasts for one year. After six months an assessment is done to see if they will go on to the second stage of the programme or if they should repeat and get an extra six months with the beginners. Even after the year, there may be repeaters. Grading is done on a monthly basis by the supervisors for punctuality, attendance, training and co-operation.
At the end of six months, one or two have opted to go to Secretarial School, but most of the time they do go on for the full year here. Some come back to teach and currently two of the supervisors are people who were on the programmes."
Three members of Living Waters supervise the Food Preparation Department, where fresh bread was being baked and trays and trays of Christmas Cake for the Living Waters Catering Section's orders.
The Fountain's support comes through the Grace of God and the Living Water Community but there is a certain degree of self- sufficiency through the sale of lasagnas made by ex-apprentices, to the supermarkets. And recently Christmas Wreaths made from wire hangers, white plastic bags and self-made decorations, were sold in the neighbourhood. There is a registration fee of $100.00 per student. "They must take responsibility for their own development" says de Sousa "so they have to supply items like fabric and scissors to use on the programme, they also make their uniform skirts here, but buy shirts, monograms, aprons and head ties."
"What we wanted to do was to equip the adults with a skill, knowing how difficult it is at times to get a job, and even at home they can do something. While some of the teenagers, having gone through the programme, want to go back to study and have been able to get into a school or other school environment or at least start taking lessons to get Math and English."
Other parts of the development programme, include field trips at least once per month, retreats, lectures and talks from the area police and others with different skills teach things like tie-dyeing "exposing them to as many things as possible" says de Sousa. The Quiet Peace Corner, with its large mural depicting the sower of the seed, for at least 15 minutes of meditation each day. A hot drink with bread and butter each morning and a balanced and nutritious mid-day meal. The students also lay tables, serve, wash up and are responsible for cleaning the units. At Carnival, they are encouraged to write calypsoes, with morality, and there is also a Christmas Concert: "It is encouraging to see the talent we have in them" says de Sousa, who the Fountain of Hope has taught "many, many things, and one is to accept people as they are and love them into wholeness."
The present group graduates in February, but de Sousa would like to start a group of teenagers and adults ahead of this, in January 2002, and as the school is closed for only one week between Christmas and New Years, registrations must begin immediately.