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#welit2024 #thepowerofliterature #readwriteshare #youthoutreach #bocas2024.
Project Components
In 2022, The JB Fernandes Memorial Trust and the Bocas Lit Fest (BLF) launched an academic and self-empowerment youth initiative, centered around Language and Literature, in Trinidad and Tobago. This groundbreaking programme introduces youth to the transformative power of reading, writing, storytelling, and journaling, fostering both academic growth and personal development.
Programme Highlights
Diverse Learning Opportunities:
- Social Media and Zoom Classes: Students engage with interactive content and participate in virtual learning sessions.
- In-School Sessions: Live performances held in schools across the country provide direct encouragement and guidance to students.
- Comprehensive Academic Curriculum: The program focuses on helping students address their unique challenges, express their personal experiences through writing, and improve their academic performance in English Language and Literature.
Achievements in 2022
- Campaign Series: A series of four videos featuring spoken word poets encouraged young people to read more, write better, and find their voice. The series received over 3,000 views.
- Creative Writing Masterclasses: 40 students participated in online masterclasses to enhance their creative writing skills.
- CXC Lessons: 80 students enrolled in online classes to prepare for their CXC exams.
- We Lit School Tour: The initiative reached 2,300 students across 10 schools in Trinidad and Tobago, inspiring and empowering them through literature.
Milestones in 2023
- Student Chapbook Publication: “On the Day I Was Born” featured writings from 14 new student authors. [Read here]
- Language and Literature Lessons: Over 100 students received lessons from our dedicated teacher, Mrs. Charlene Joseph-Holmes. Students who took their exams in 2023 reported excellent performance ranging from distinctions to grade 2 and expressed gratitude for the sponsored lessons.
This initiative continues to make a significant impact by providing quality education and fostering a love for language and literature among Trinidad and Tobago’s youth.
What's on?

As part of our ongoing efforts to nurture young creatives and stay current, the We Lit workshop series this year focuses on guiding students through the process of scriptwriting, phone videography, and video editing.Â
Participants learn how to bring their stories to life on screen, culminating in the production of short films.Â
The series runs from October to December 2024, and selected works will be featured in the We Lit Showcase in 2025, where students will have the opportunity to present their films to a wider audience.
Ongoing
Our 2024/2025 online classes for English A, English B, Communication Studies, and Caribbean Studies for Forms 5 and 6 are underway. These classes run from September 2024 to May 2025, offering students a flexible, in-depth learning experience with Mrs Joseph-Holmes and Ms Mathison.
Recently Completed


In October 2024, over 1600 secondary school students experienced captivating performances featuring spoken word poetry and drama as part of the third edition of the We Lit School Tour. The tour will continue throughout the academic year, reaching schools across Trinidad and Tobago.
Archive
In April 2024, 42 young writers from 25 schools published The Travelling Journal, an anthology that tackled important youth issues across various genres. Students are invited to join future creative writing workshops, with the chance to have their work featured in our next publication, set to launch in 2025.
