Headquarters: 1 CCC Street, Beetham Gardens, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. (868) 625-4CCC(4222)

CCC History Snapshots

1992: The Honourable Wendell Mottley, Minister of Finance of Trinidad and Tobago, delivered the concept of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to parliament in his Budget Speech.

He indicated that the CCC would bring relief to unemployed youth aged 18 to 25 years and practise environmental conservation.

1993: The Cabinet officially established the CCC programme.

The first cycle began with 743 trainees in four (4) regions.

1999: The Cabinet halted the CCC programme despite its initial success.

2002: The Cabinet revitalised a newly re-engineered CCC programme to run in eight (8) regions nationwide.

2007: The Specialised Youth Services Programme (SYSP) was established as the CCC's coordinating headquarters.

The success of the CCC led to the creation of the Military-Led Academic Training (MILAT) programme, the Military-Led Youth Partnership of Apprenticeship and Re-orientation Training (MYPART), and the National Youth Service (NYS).

2011: The Civilian Conservation Corps celebrates its 9th anniversary!

CCC Mission: To positively alter attitudes and behaviours of socially marginalized young adults.

CCC Vision: To transform socially marginalized young adults into empowered citizens and improve their quality of life through the use of best practices in developing their self esteem, employability, sensitivity to the natural environment and sense of national pride.

The History of the Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is a social intervention programme that provides skills training and attitudinal and behavioural development to at-risk youth across the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

CCC: forged from a Concept

On 20 November, 1992, the Honourable Wendell Mottley, Minister of Finance, introduced the Cabinet and people of Trinidad and Tobago to the concept of the CCC. In that speech, the Honourable Minister indicated that the CCC would address two grave needs: prevalent unemployment among individuals aged 18 to 25 yeas old, and the conservation of our nation's beautiful natural environment.

In Section 7 of his speech, the Honourable Minister indicated that the CCC would be overseen and administered by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, under the Ministry of National Security, and would "not only impart important skills to participants but also contribute immeasurably to the conservation of our environment."

On 4 February, 1993, the Cabinet agreed to the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps and thus, the CCC was officially created. The first cycle of the CCC programme began on 14th June, 1993 with 743 trainees in four (4) regions. It successfully completed that cycle and steadily gained momentum until 1999 when, despite its success, it was halted.

CCC: a second beginning

On 14 March, 2002, the Cabinet revitalised the Civilian Conservation Corps programme. It was re-engineered and, once again, overseen by the Ministry of National Security's Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. This 'new' Civilian Conservation Corps commenced with the following objectives:

  • To train and develop our nation's unemployed citizens aged 18 to 25 years for employment;
  • To curb the rising incidence of crimes committed by citizens within this age group;
  • To raise the self-esteem of participants;
  • To foster socially desirable and well-balanced behaviours among those participants;
  • To foster in them a sense of national pride and improve civic-mindedness;
  • To provide them with temporary employment;
  • To develop in them an understanding and sensitivity to the natural environment;
  • To collaborate with the Forestry Division to assist in its reaforestation and environmental conservation efforts.

In January 2007, the Cabinet established the Specialised Youth Services Programme (SYSP) as the coordinating headquarters of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The SYSP worked diligently with the CCC, and this joint effort made the programme not only fully functional, but also tremendously successful. Indeed, the success of the Civilian Conservation Corps programme led to the establishment of three (3) other programmes under the SYSP: the Military-Led Academic Training (MILAT) programme, the Military-Led Youth Partnership of Apprenticeship and Re-orientation Training (MYPART), and the National Youth Service (NYS). Thus, the CCC is the benchmark programme against which the other aforementioned programmes were conceptualised.

CCC: growing stronger and moving forward!

The Director, Major Richardson, and staff of the Civilian Conservation Corps are very proud of the fact that the CCC programme has helped over 35,000 of our nation's young men and women thus far. We look forward to growing even stronger as we remain focused on and committed to getting youth ready for life!