In 2016, two young leaders met in Canada, the trip there a reward for excellence. Little did they suspect that, five years later, they would be taking on the stewardship of the student body at the St Augustine Campus.
Then, Kobe Sandy and Christon Malchan were enrolled in RBC’s Young Leaders programme, Malchan receiving the award for most outstanding participant. This June, they will be the big men on campus, having respectively been elected president and vice-president of UWI St Augustine’s Guild of Students Council.
The Guild Council represents all enrolled students and their interests at the campus. Its aims include fostering the educational and social lives of students, and advancing unity and fraternity among members.
Sandy, who is studying for a degree in Public Sector Management, has had a lifelong interest in politics. Even in primary school, he says, he would research government ministers in T&T and the region.
“I have always dreamed to be prime minister,” he admits.
While still in primary school in south Trinidad, supported by his entrepreneur mom and pastor aunt, he started a literacy-focused NGO, Friends Inc. Later, at Vessigny Secondary School, he became president of the student council.
Vice-President-elect Malchan has had a similar focus at his schools, San Juan Secondary and Queen’s Royal College. But unlike Sandy, who served as chairman of the Guild’s National Affairs Committee in his first year, this is Malchan’s first foray into a leadership role at the tertiary level. He notes that most who run for Guild office start out as members of committees before trying for top roles. While on the campaign trail he pitched: “I was boldfaced enough to jump to VP, don’t you think I’m bold enough to represent you?”
Malchan is an Accounting student who grew up in a competitive atmosphere with four brothers at home (and seven other siblings on his father’s side). He said the initial connection he and Sandy made in Canada was strengthened when they got to campus. “I think we are two strong leaders who are willing to lead, and who know how to work together.”
He says their shared interest in advocacy will serve them well: “We discussed the fact that we will have differences of opinion but we have to remember it’s for the betterment of the entire student population. I think we are mature enough and we have been working well together during this transition phase.”
Malchan is aiming his efforts at increased student engagement, which he feels has fallen off since the pandemic caused classes to move online.
“People are becoming demotivated. COVID has everyone kind of off-balance. I want to bring back that balance, providing some kind of experience that’s not coming off as a forum, but as something that is light, as something that you will enjoy. It’s not the same as being physically present, but we want to bring back a sense of excitement.”
Sandy says the defining mission of their new, year-long term will be navigating students through the landscape of COVID-19.
“Students are in crisis,” he says. “Whereas, on a physical campus, you have the joy of interaction – that has been demolished. It’s very tough, mentally. We want to be sure the administration is aware and sees that students are not at their best. They are trying to get above the water, where we are drowning.”
The new Guild president adds that, “we must now understand that this is an unprecedented time, and it calls for innovative and progressive leadership. That is what I want to bring to this organisation, and of course, to be that catalyst to encourage, inspire and actually engage the students.”
To this end, the Guild team (under the previous executive) launched its “Mind U” initiative last year, with a series of online forums on the subject of mental health.
“We will continue to ensure that the students’ welfare is of paramount importance, providing mental health avenues for our members to cope, and ensure they have access to food assistance [for those who need it]. We will provide access to counselling, and ensure all this [is available] on a new virtual platform — and have lectures and assignments done in a standardised manner," says Sandy.
He wants to see the Guild’s advocacy role extending even beyond campus. “I feel the [Guild’s advocacy] has decreased tremendously. In 1970, the Black Power Movement, which was led by students of the UWI Student Guild, changed the whole society. I’m not saying we should go out and protest in the road the same way, but we have to hold public servants to account.”
“Together we can make it happen,” he says. “That is our theme.”
