Department of Behavioural Sciences

The UWI- Farm Road Community Collaborative Project

Background of the Project

Community Engagement and Service learning is increasingly seen in higher education as a means of transforming students into civically engaged students with a sense of social responsibility. Over the years, global best practices of Schools of Social Work and particularly the field education (practicum) has focused on developing a university-community partnership which allows practicum students the opportunity to gain experience in intervention at the community level- using the skills in intervention with children, families and vulnerable groups. Thus, community-university led social work field education provides opportunities for students to benefit from using skills in casework, group work and supporting families and vulnerable groups. 

In 2017, the Campus Committee on Community Engagement and In-Service Learning drew representatives of all faculties to plan a university supported community project. After conducting an assessment of needs, assets and access to resources, as well as community invitation, the Social Work Practicum Co-ordinator and Social Work PhD Candidate began to explore the opportunities for collaboration with Farm Road, St. Joseph.

Community Information

Farm Road is an unplanned community located in St. Joseph on the southern side of the Priority Bus Route.  It falls under the jurisdiction of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.  The community has an estimated population of nine hundred (900) residents. 70% of the community is made up of young people between the ages of 12-29.   The community is known to be an area associated with high poverty, high levels of school attrition and unemployment. Data suggests that the majority of residents did not achieve an education beyond the secondary level with a significant number not having completed primary school (CSP, 2015).

Operationalizing the Initiative

The work to operationalize the Farm Road Collaborative was done jointly by the Office of Career, Co-Curricula and In-Service Learning, guided by the then Deputy Principal, Prof. Rhoda Reddock. The model was fashioned after the August Town Project, or UWI Mona’s Township Project.

In this regard, the Social Work Unit, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, through the practicum, facilitated the process of developing a model for the delivery of an integrated community investment project. This project’s framework was developed by the Practicum Co-ordinator, with two MSc. social work students in collaboration with other faculties and departments to engage with this community in a mutually benefitting relationship. The ultimate aim was to support an innovative model for community engagement and in service learning.

The project is expected to utilize a unique participatory model of intervention to build educational opportunities for community engagement and social action aimed at enhancing community growth, building community capacity and expanding local resources.

The Community Intervention Model

Aim/ Purpose

The current situation of Farm Road provides an opportunity for intervention that seeks to build educational opportunities, community engagement and social action aimed towards alleviating social inequalities. This collaboration with the community is significant as it provides an understanding of how the UWI, St. Augustine, can support people in communities to enhance community growth, build community capacity and expand local resources.

This collaborative is a strategy to promote partnerships which can spark novel ideas and approaches and facilitate intervention that is led by members of the community who have historically been under-represented.

Activities to Date:

• Pilot of the programme: placement of two MSc social work students to complete 560 hours of practicum (August 2017-September 2017). Since then the project has absorbed fourteen (14) MSc. Students.
• Action based partnership with the community
• Implementation of a two-week project with eight (8) female members of the community on Drapery and Home Linens during the period July 24- August 4th 2017
• Three annual vacation camps with 25 children from the community. Components included HFLE sessions on conflict resolution, gender based relations, career planning field trips, craft, sport and cultural sessions.
• Implementation of the “White Tent Project”. Every Friday from 4 p.m-6 p.m. Student volunteers host children from the community in doing homework/ life skills development/ engaging in recreational activities. The activities take place under a White pop-up tent placed in the Savannah in the community. The social work interns use the opportunity to create a safe space to discuss current issues, the experiences of children at school during the week and to address any issues which may hinder the children’s development.
• Open air Movie. In drawing the community members together through convivial activities, the community hosted a move-evening on February 16th 2018 in the open savannah. Approximately 68 members of the community attended. Particularly noticeable was the attendance of entire families with children. This activity promoted a shared sense community spirit and cohesion.
• The RISE project- Psychosocial support for youth and parents hosted by the St. Joseph Police Youth Club.
• Covid-19 support for families in the Farm Road community including food support.

Community Involvement

The project emphasizes the involvement with members of the community, beyond tokenism, in planning and coordinating every aspect of activities. Thus community members advise on planning events, provide insight into the needs assessment and are actively engaged in mobilizing and coordinating the events. As the project moves forward, a community liaison committee will be formalized to continue to realize the goals of the project.

Partnership with the Social Work Unit/ School of Education

While the UWI/ Farm Road Collaborative Project is centrally coordinated by the Department of Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement in the Division of Student Services and Development, there has been collaboration with the Social Work Unit and the School of Education. Through this partnership, the project provides a site for M.Ed. students with a space for completing action projects. This partnership has already seen the participation of students of the School of Education in the following areas:

• A two-week project with eight (8) female members of the community on Drapery and Home Linens during the period July 24- August 4th 2017 (hosted by the School of Education).
• HFLE sessions on Conflict Resolution which was delivered during a one week children’s camp with 25 students.
• HFLE sessions on Conflict Resolution with the participants of the Vacation Camp during 14-18 August 2017 ((hosted by the School of Education).

Cheryl-Ann Boodram, PhD

Lecturer/ Practicum Co-Ordinator, Social Work Unit