The Rotary Club of St. Augustine has undertaken a project to refurbish the Prosperity Dormitory at the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre (YTRC), restoring the space to its original function as a Pre-Release Room for residents preparing to transition back into society.
The project reflects Rotary’s commitment to youth development and rehabilitation by creating a structured environment where young men nearing the end of their programme can reflect on their progress, set personal goals, and prepare for the responsibilities they will face upon release.
“Rehabilitation is most successful when young people are given the opportunity to reflect, plan, and prepare for life beyond the institution,” said Melissa Senhouse, President of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine. “By restoring this space, we hope to support residents as they transition back into their communities with renewed confidence and purpose.”
Prior to 2020, the Prosperity Dormitory served as a transitional space designed to support residents during this critical stage of their rehabilitation journey. The room was later closed and repurposed as a storage area, leaving the facility without a dedicated environment for pre-release preparation. Through this refurbishment initiative, the Rotary Club of St. Augustine is helping to restore an important component of the Centre’s rehabilitation framework.
The initiative was recently visited by Soraya Warner-Gustave, District Governor of Rotary District 7030, who toured the facility and acknowledged the importance of collaborative efforts that support youth rehabilitation and reintegration.
Also in attendance were: Dr. Wendell Lewis, Superintendent of the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre; Mrs. Orphelia Brown, Acting Assistant Superintendent; Heidi Joseph, Acting Supervisor; Mr. Avalon Ramsahai, Prisons Officer II; Betty Ann Whiteman-Skinner, Assistant Governor, East Cluster, Trinidad; Melissa Senhouse, President, Rotary Club of St. Augustine; Debbie Battersby, President-Elect, Rotary Club of St. Augustine and Indar Ramnath, Past President, Rotary Club of St. Augustine.
The Rotary Club of St. Augustine, now in its 57th year, remains committed to initiatives that support youth development, rehabilitation, and community strengthening, reflecting the Rotary ideal of ‘Service Above Self.’
Photo caption - Left to right: Heidi Joseph, Acting Supervisor; From the Rotary Club of St Augustine: Indar Ramnath, Past President; Debbie Battersby, President-Elect; Melissa Senhouse, President; Betty Ann Whiteman-Skinner, Assistant Governor, East Cluster Trinidad; Soraya Warner-Gustave, Rotary District 7030 Governor, Dr. Wendell Lewis, Superintendent of the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre; Mrs. Orphelia Brown, Acting Assistant Superintendent; and Avalon Ramsahai, Prisons Officer II.