"Puede que ahora te sientas mal y no puedas soportar el peso que llevas encima, y eso es comprensible." ("You may be feeling bad right now and unable to bear the weight you're carrying, and that is understandable.")

Just hours earlier, it had been filled with laughter as young women debated whether morning showers were better than evening showers, challenged common hygiene myths, and worked together to build hygiene kits on a limited budget. Now, one participant, 14-year-old Amy, was sharing a message of hope with anyone who might be struggling.

"Hay personas que tienen el mismo sentimiento y se sienten igual que tú, y puedes sentirte a gusto con esas personas y hablar con ellas." ("There are people who feel the same way you do, and you can feel comfortable talking with them.")

Her words captured exactly what the day had become, a safe space where young migrant women could ask difficult questions, share experiences, and discover that they were not alone.

Amy was one of 17 migrant young women who participated in a bilingual Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and hygiene workshop hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Trinidad and Tobago Liaison Office during a multi-sectoral mission to Tobago from 27–30 May 2026. Conducted in partnership with Por Amor de Dios and supported by a bilingual nurse, the workshop provided practical knowledge on hygiene, consent, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health while breaking down language and cultural barriers.

Beyond the workshop, the mission included strategic consultations with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and capacity-building sessions on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE), strengthening partnerships that will help shape future programming across the island.

Unlike a traditional classroom, the workshop encouraged movement, discussion and participation. Icebreakers helped participants feel comfortable speaking with one another, while interactive activities challenged misinformation surrounding hygiene and sexual health. Through group discussions, participants challenged common misconceptions about hygiene and sexual health, explored issues such as period poverty, body image and social expectations, discussed consent and personal boundaries, and learned practical ways to maintain health and dignity regardless of financial circumstances. 

The approach was intentional. Facilitators intentionally created a supportive, non-judgmental environment where participation was encouraged but never forced.  Every activity was delivered in both English and Spanish, ensuring that language was never a barrier to learning or belonging.

For Lisa Hospedales, founder of Por Amor de Dios, watching the young women engage so openly was one of the workshop's greatest successes.

"This program has really empowered those migrant young ladies. Their voice matters," she reflected. "Information like this is crucial for them to understand their value... to identify threats, recognize grooming and know that they have a voice."

Hospedales said the workshop's interactive format gave participants the confidence to express themselves, describing the activities as "very engaging" and thanking UNFPA for creating opportunities that many of the young women may not otherwise have had.

Among the topics that resonated most with participants was the discussion on consent and personal boundaries. 

After the session, 14-year-old Keriana Lorene summed up one of the day's biggest lessons in a sentence that drew smiles across the room.

"I learned that your voice matters and that consent is reversible. So if you say yes today, you can say no tomorrow."

It was a simple statement, but one that reflected a powerful understanding that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body and to change their mind without fear or guilt.

While the workshop centred on young migrant women, it formed part of a broader mission to strengthen protection systems across Tobago.

Earlier in the week, UNFPA worked alongside the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Gender Affairs Unit and other stakeholders to strengthen Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) coordination. Participants explored survivor-centred approaches, referral pathways and preparedness measures, resulting in an agreement to jointly facilitate Shelter Management Training later this year to better integrate protection services during emergencies.

The mission also strengthened collaboration with the Tobago House of Assembly, where discussions on the 2027–2031 Sub-Regional Programme identified priority areas including expanding Comprehensive Sexuality Education, strengthening GBViE preparedness, advancing positive masculinity programmes and supporting community initiatives focused on gender equality and youth development.

For the young women gathered in the workshop, however, the lasting impact was not measured in strategic plans or partnerships.

It was found in the confidence to ask a question they had never asked before.

It was found in discovering that myths can be challenged, that support is available, and that everyone deserves accurate information about their health and wellbeing.

Most importantly, it was found in the realization that every voice matters, including their own.