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The Coterie of Social Workers (COSW) is an organization, that was established in 1921 in Trinidad and Tobago, by  Miss Audrey Jeffers.  This organization was a charitable one that aimed at helping underprivileged and poor women and it provided free meals to  school children . In 1926 the first "breakfast shed" was established in Port of Spain .   This organization was the first organization that was interested in helping women  and children  of different color regardless of their marital status. They also  established the St. Mary's Home for Blind Girls and Women in 1928, the Maud Reeves Hostel for Working Girls in 1935, Anstey House for Respectable Young Ladies, and in the 1940s, Faith House, a rest house and training center for women. The Coterie opened a number of nursery schools throughout Trinidad. The Coterie now has offices throughout the country with its  head office  located at 3 Longden Street in Port of Spain.

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SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED BY THE COTERIE

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SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED BY THE COTERIE

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Currently ,the Coterie has six branches but are not operating or involved in any ECCE programmes but they continue to provide:
1) Food hampers and meals to families in need.

2) School supplies & transportation for school children.

3)  Bursary for UWI  social work students.

4)  Assistance to children's homes.

5) Assistance to victims of fire & natural disasters.

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According to the  author of “The Briarend Pattern” Audrey Jeffers, Evelyn Dyer, Pauline Dyer, Maud Reeves, Clair & Olive Monsterrin, Marie & Ursula Solomon, Iris Semper, Vicky Roach, Ida Este, Zena Barrow, Thelma Daniel, Vicky Saldenha, ; Mesdames Constance Perry, Martha Semper, Mary Layne Jeffers, and Louisa Gordon were all the founding members of the Coterie.

CURRENT EXECUTIVE LEADERS :
President:                     Miss Jennifer Hodge

1st. Vice President:     Mrs. Lystra Roach

2nd Vice President:       Mrs. Philisia Reid

Hon. Secretary:            Mrs. Patricia White

Asst. Hon. Secretary:   Mrs. Gwendolyn Mark

Hon. Treasurer:            Mrs. Denise Barton

Trustees:                     Mrs. Beulah Williams, Mrs. Ursula deGourville

P.R.O.:                        Mrs. Carolyn Skerritt-Weekes

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THE NATURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. 

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THE NATURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. 

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The nature of contributions to Early Childhood Care and Education in Trinidad and Tobago began in 1940 in an attempt to assist working mothers. According to Neila Todd, in the book The legacy of the Coterie of Social Workers,  “ The care and education of the young was an inevitable action and was undertaken to facilitate working mothers, some of who were the only breadwinners in the family.”
The John John Day Nursery was the first day nursery established on Plaisance Road, John John, in Laventille.
This nursery and nursery school served its community for over fifty years.

A second day nursery was opened at the San Fernando Branch in 1945 .This nursery and nursery school served the community for sixty years.  In December of 2005 the building was demolished to make way for a modernized building to house the Branch’s school meals kitchen .

In 1959 with the assistance of Shell Leaseholds, the organisation established its Point Fortin Day Nursery. The Barataria Branch was inaugurated in 1957. The Branch also established a nursery and nursery school which served its community until 2019 . Sadly none of these Nursery schools are in operation currently but despite this The Coterie has made tremendous contribution to the ECCE field.

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The aims and objectives as outlined in the Constitution of the organization are as follows:

(a) To cultivate an interest in and to strive to stimulate and promote voluntary social service for the progress and welfare of the Community in general with particular reference to women and children, the aged, needy and infirm.

(b) In the absence of the National School Feeding Programme or in collaboration with the National School Feeding Programme, to provide meal centres for the feeding of children and those socially displaced, whether free of charge or at a nominal cost, such meal centres being subsidized by funds for the Corporation and/or other agencies.

(c) To take an active part in the care of the physically challenged.

(d) To provide such Hostels and Homes as may from time to time be deemed necessary for working women, girls and the homeless, as well as parents and guardians in need.

e)   To provide Day Nurseries for the care of children of working parents and generally to relieve poor and needy parents and guardians by acts of social service.

(f)  To support and care for the sick, the poor and the aged and to provide them with occupation, entertainment and recreation and generally to carry a word of good cheer to those in distress.

(g) To organize Clubs and/or groups with a view to promote the normal growth and development and healthy recreation for young people and women.

(h) To promote holistic development for a caring and peaceful society.

(i)  To take an active part in any conference, convention or the like pertaining to social welfare in or out of Trinidad and Tobago.

(j)  To cooperate with any other organization/s whose objectives are similar to those of this Corporation.

(k) To strive to ensure equal opportunities for gender equity in education and employment.

(l)  To do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any of them.