Report: Team Building and Social Welfare Challenges in Grand Turk

This report provides an overview of the social welfare challenges faced by Grand Turk, the capital of Turks and Caicos. It highlights the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy as a primary concern, attributing it to factors such as tourism, drug use, lack of education, and socioeconomic disparities. The report discusses the negative outcomes of teenage pregnancy, including health risks for both mothers and children, increased mortality rates, and socioeconomic consequences. It emphasizes the need for social service organizations and team building initiatives to address these issues. The report outlines the rationale for establishing such organizations, their significance in the context of Grand Turk's vulnerabilities to natural disasters and economic dependence on tourism, and the role of social service organizations in providing aid to vulnerable populations. The report also discusses the importance of team building in addressing social challenges and offers recommendations for improving social welfare in the community.

Running head: TEAM BUILDING AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN GRAND
TURK
Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:

1Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
I. Introduction:
General Overview:
Grand Turk, the capital of Turks and Caicos Island, an island governed by the British
territory, located in the Atlantic, is the largest and second most populated island in the
country. The island has beautiful and interesting stories regarding the settlement and the
aborigines, among which, the most popular one is the belief that it was the first island where
Columbus had set his feet. The island that is the administrative, cultural, financial and
historic centre of the country had a torturous past of colonisation by the Bermudians who first
settled down here and set up the salt industry, which the island is still practicing and the
practice of slavery. After the American Freedom movement, British had retrenched the
practice of Slavery and took the island into its governance (Palmié, & Scarano, 2013).
Although the country is now practicing democracy but it is still under the governance of the
British territory. However, the city is now faced with certain social problems. However, the
country is now faced with an increasing problem of the teenage mothers and teenage
pregnancy among the city. There is an increasing rate of teenage pregnancy among the young
women which need essential and effective action. This has heightened the need for the set-up
of a welfare body in the society. Therefore, in this paper, the need and reasons for such an
establishment in the city and the way the issue can be solved and certain recommendations to
account and embrace certain situations have been discussed. Further, in this light the concept
of team building and the significance of this concept in this situation is also illustrated.
Rationale for the Program:
In the recent period, is seen that the rate of teenage pregnancy among the city has
been heightened. More and more young girls have now seen to be dropping out of schools
because of this reason. The child and maternal mortality rate have been seen on rise over the

2Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
past few years. More importantly, the city does not have any policies implemented or
awareness programs regarding the same. Therefore, it is very important for the youth of the
society to come forward and take proper measures to deal with this social challenge. They
must voluntarily create a social service organisation to address this issue and help the young
mothers.
Significance of the Program:
Since, the islanders are solely dependent upon the tourism and fishing industry for the
financial purposes, the country is posed with the issues of poverty even with population of a
little more than 50,000 that constitutes only about 8-9% of the whole demography of the
country. Secondly, the country has been a victim of a number of natural calamities and is
likely to be a victim of more as per the opinions of the weather forecasting agencies, but the
island is still very much vulnerable to account to these issues and there are no agencies or
organisations to help during such time of difficulties, yet (Kennedy, 2013). Also, the city is
now posed with increasing population that is contributing to other factors of challenges to the
country. However, the pressing matter, that is viewed across the country is the problem
related to the Teenage Pregnancy.
Social Service Organisations:
The term social service organisations refer to the groups that work for and towards
aiding the distressed, underprivileged and vulnerable persons or groups, who are in need of
resources both financial and non-financial. The concept emerged and spread form the 20th
century as part of the concept of social reasonability. The concept is shaped by the religious
and philosophical perspectives and include the notions of both social and health indexes
(O'Connor, 2015). The basic area of concern of social welfares are the issues related to
poverty, problems faced by the elderly people, environmental issues, natural calamities,
challenges faced by the disabled ones, youth addicted to drugs, distressed people, challenges

3Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
faced by the women, educational issues, orphans and poverty afflicted children and
trafficking issues (Fabricant, Burghardt, & Epstein, 2016). With the development of the
societies, such social issues are also on the rise which needs proper attention and systematic
responses from the individuals within the society. Each society is characterised by and is in
practice of different kinds of social problems, therefore, the problem solving approaches,
embraced by each society is different in orientation. Further, the resources that each countries
possess, both economic and demographic shapes these approaches taken by each of the
country to resolute and address the social issues. Initially, the social service sector was
governed and dominated by the public bodies, but, with increasing time it is now dominated
by the private bodies and the non-government organisations. Since the processes of the
government agencies are much time taking and involves a vast procedure, the non-
government organisations and the private bodies have seen to be exceling in this sector with
fluency and smoothness in work and also with a much focused, structured and strategized
approaches to the problems (Timms & Timms, 2016).
With time the social workers have seen to be addressing to the particular section of
the society whose needs and requirements are not parallel with the workings of other
organisations and professions. Moreover, the public and private bodies are now seen to have
differentiated and shared their focus areas. While, the government organisations are seen to
be focused with bigger social issues like poverty, education and natural calamity affected
areas, the private bodies have more micro approach towards the social issues.
Need for Social Service Organisations in the City:
The city, Grand Turk, is perceived with increasing rate of population along with
certain other social issues that have been seen to have got heightened. The social challenges
that the city is posed with are- firstly, the unavailability and inaccessibility of water is a
primary challenge for the islanders. According to the demographers, any area that falls under

4Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
the 200square kilometre is considered as small area and those falling under the 100 square
kilometre area are considered as very small area (Kazama, 2013). Since, the area of Grand
Turk is only seven square kilometres, it is included in the very small area and is posed with
some serious issues regarding accessibility and availability of water. Moreover, the island is a
limestone island that is mostly flat in areas and low lying in areas with a lacking of
opportunity to surface water storage, and the places where there is water it is presented in thin
lens-shaped figures (Berk, 2013). The water in these lens are mostly mixed with saline sea
water and are in much vulnerable position. There are high chances of breakage and
destruction if tried to extract. Therefore, the islanders are often faced with draughts.
However, there is an increasing rate of teenage pregnancy among the young women
of the city. The term Teenage Pregnancy refers to the situation of girls aged between 13-19
are seen to be impregnated. Basically, the girls who have not legally reached the age to
involve in sexual intercourse. It is seen that there is an over representation of the young
women in the sexual and reproductive morbidity in the city. Different researchers have
reasoned the situation differently. Almost, 70% of teenage girls are seen to be either
impregnated or with child. The popular reason that the researchers have found out are
discussed below.
Firstly, the city is observing a booming tourism industry. With time the percentage of
tourists visiting the place has increased which has further given rise to a lot of situations. The
young teenage girls have seen to be sexually harassed by the tourists. There is also a trend of
paedophilic activities among the tourists. All these are leading towards teenage pregnancy.
Also, the tourism industry is seen to have contributed indirectly in the trafficking and
prostitution activities in the city. Certain concepts were alien in the city. But the booming of
the tourism industry has been seen to increased the rates of such activities.

5Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
Secondly, the country has incorporated an open system allowing the people of the
neighbouring countries to come to the land and settle down here, and the growing tourism
industry has increased the rate of people of the neighbouring countries in the city. They are
involving themselves into various ‘kinds of professions all, mostly depending up on the
tourism industry. These professions include drug dealing as well. Therefore, the teen agers of
the city have been seen to have involved in using and selling drugs. This also has contributed
to the increase of teen age pregnancy. Experimenting with the drugs among the teenagers
have been increased which impacts the functioning of their brain and therefore is contributing
to teenage pregnancy.
Thirdly, the occurrences of teenage pregnancy are evidently and especially presented
among the children with lower educational qualification. It is seen that the children from poor
educational background are the obvious victims of teenage pregnancy. As one can gain
knowledge the awareness related health and other social concepts, with education, therefore,
the lacking of the same induces un-awareness among the society, and this directly contributes
to the increased rates of teenage pregnancy. Further, with poor level of education and
knowledge they did not have any concept of reproductive health and the consequences of
unprotected and unsafe sexual activities.
Fourthly, the level of teenage pregnancy is especially present among the people from
lower socio-economic backgrounds. People from lower socio-economic background lack the
access to education which contributes to the teenage pregnancy as mentioned earlier.
Moreover, the children lack role models from whom they can learn and gain knowledge.
Furthermore, families with lower socio-economic background are often presented with sexual
abuse within the family. It is often seen that the girls are impregnated by their father or uncle
or brother. All these take place because of lower level of education and poor socio-economic
background.

6Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
Also, since the city is quite economically and socially backward, therefore, the people
have little or no knowledge of contraceptives or safe sex. Therefore, the sexual activities that
are mostly seen are mostly unprotected ones and unsafe ones. Moreover, in some places using
contraceptives are culturally banned. The people do not believe in pre-marital sex, but the
places are presented with lack of education, usage of substance among the population and
poor economic status of the people. Therefore, the teenagers can not avail the option of
practicing safe sex and using contraceptives. Further, the place also lacks proper health cares
and doctors and gynaecologists, who can guide them and provide them with proper
medicines. These all aspects have thus positively contributed towards the increase in the
teenage pregnancy.
Outcome of Teenage Pregnancy:
The teenage pregnancy essentially results into teenage mothers, and affect the health
of both the mothers and the child. Every year, 13% of girls with teenage pregnancy are dead
because of poor health conditions and lack of accessibility and availability of medicines and
good doctors. Also, there is an increase in the rate of child mortality. Also, the child borne,
are often seen with poor health condition, and often there is incidents of demise of a child
after birth. This also, further, contributes to poor lifestyle and socio-economic condition. This
has also contributed towards the rate of poverty and is seen as one of the reasons for
increased population in the society. Further, this contributes to more unemployment, lack of
education and affect the health index, GDP and educational level of the city as a whole.
Moreover, the teenage mothers, do not have any concept of being a mother and rearing a
child. They themselves are young and immature, and have no knowledge of managing a child
and household. Therefore, the girls are often faced with role complexities and dilemma,
which affect their psychological and mental health as well.

7Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
The government is lacking resources and strategies to address these concerning areas.
Moreover, the government is seen to have no knowledge of this situation and have an
extremely reluctant attitude towards resolving certain situation. Therefore, there is a need of
setting up of welfare programmes within the country and the youth of the place should be the
ones to come up and join voluntarily. The youth are always perceived as the harbinger of
change within the city (Kato, 2013). Therefore, although the number of youth constitute only
30% of the city, but they must come forward to bring in this change since the government of
the country is being unable to r reluctant to address these issues.
II. Methodology:
To implement the welfare program within the city it is important to conduct survey
among the society and gather data regarding the outlook of the people regarding these social
issues. To gather the data both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection
method is used.
Data Collection:
The method of data collection is defined as the processes of collecting, measuring and
evaluating the collected information regarding an issue considering the variables of interests
and explaining validated outcomes basing upon these findings and suggesting
recommendations if needed. There are two processes of collecting data based upon the focus
area and requirement of the study.
Quantitative Data Collection Method: Quantitative method of data collection essentially
involves the processes of survey. The survey method of data collection involves gathering
data conducting a survey in the society across all the people, irrespective of any social
parameters like, class, race, language, gender and the like (Taylor, Bogdan & Devault, 2015).

8Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
To have a holistic understanding of the social situation, conducting a survey in the
city is very important to understand and cognise the orientation and level of awareness among
the people regarding the issues.
Quantitative Data collection: The quantitative forms if data collection essentially includes the
interview processes and reviewing previous studies that have already been conducted
regarding the same or on similar areas (Quinlan et al., 2019). In this case, only an interview
process can be conducted, which will include a structured and systematic format of
questionnaire and with both close and open ended questions.
The interview method is needed to be conducted to understand the thoughts and
orientations of the youth and to understand the areas that they are concerned with and also to
review their opinions and ideas regarding the social situations that the city is faced with.
Hence, the interview processes will essentially include the youth section of the society.
Certain data collection method will help to understand and cognise the social situation
and outlook of the people, especially of the youth. Further, basing upon the collected data,
planning and processes of designing and implementing the social service and welfare
organisation will be strategized. Therefore, it can be said that the result of the data collection
process can result in two ways. First, the youth are not at all aware of the current social
situation of the city and second, they are aware of the situation and want to act upon it but are
restricted by the resources or things similar to this.
III. Findings of the Study:
Basing upon the conducted study, following deductions have been made. First, it is
seen that the whole youth section of the society is not properly aware of the current social
scenario of increased rate teenage pregnancy. They have a reluctant and indifferent approach

9Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
to the current social scenario of the place. Most of them do not have any orientation and
understanding of the issues and how they may be effectively addressed.
Second, the insignificant percentage of youth that are aware of the situations are
restricted and by the financial condition of the country and the city. Since, the island has a
very poor economic condition, therefore, they are not being able to address the social
situations. Financial condition of the city is the biggest hindrance to conduct any social
welfare programs as observed by the youth.
Third, the agendas and orientations taken by the government are very elementary and
not effective at all. Moreover, as evaluated from the interviews, the government are not
working properly to address the issues, and they are lacking orientation to address the current
situation. As per the opinion of the youth, the government is not properly implementing the
taken approaches and are very reluctant in their orientation.
Fourthly, there is a communication gap among the people and between the people and
the government. There is a severe lack of proper communication approaches on the part of
the government towards the people and also, in case of the habitats of the city, they also lack
the knowledge and understanding of how they can approach to the government.
Further, the majority of the population do not have the knowledge of the approaches
and propositions taken by the government. While surveying, it is been seen that the
government actually has certain approaches and agendas that were taken to address the
current situation of increasing rate of teenage pregnancy and teenage mothers, but a majority
of the population have no conception of that. This can be assessed in two ways, one, the
government did not corporate proper campaign to make the population aware of these
agendas that they have taken, and second the people are quite reluctant to these issues that

10Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
they did not have any knowledge or did not try to gain any knowledge regarding the
government approaches.
IV. Recommendations:
The city is in dire need of a privatised Social Welfare and Services Organisation, and
for that the youth of the society must be made properly aware of the current social situations.
However, in order to do that the following areas must be covered.
Firstly, an awareness program must be commenced among the youth of the society.
The insignificant number of youth who are aware of the current scenario of the
society must design this awareness program to spread awareness of the present social
situation and spread among the needs and significance of such program. They must
made them understand the importance and urgency of such a program. However, for
that they must need to build a team among themselves. Building of a team is very
essential for the establishment of the organisation (Hind, 2014). The members and the
youth must understand the definition and significance of the team building.
Team Building:
Therefore, setting up of a team is much needed to set up the welfare organisation. It
will provide the base for the establishment of the organisation. More importantly, it will
provide the essence of working together and will increase the bonding and understanding
among the members which is an essential component of any organisation.
Team building is one of the most important investments a business organization can
make for its people. A proper and efficient team building helps the company in building trust
among the member, mitigates conflicts, increases collaboration and encourages the flow of
communication in the members of the organization. The need of team building is to improve
the productivity and motivation of the teams present in a department. Effective team building

11Team Building and Social Welfare in Grand Turk
also helps in engagement of more employees, which is good for the culture of the company as
because it boosts the bottom line. Effective teams are characterized by trust, collaboration
and trust. Teamwork helps a system to build where the employees work for the good goal of
the company having a common aim to work together and achieve the goal in common. If an
organization follows a proper teamwork model, it will create a workplace where each of the
members will be responsible for the activities, which are related with them. The environment
of a collaborative team overcomes various hurdles like requirement of additional time, loss of
autonomy, lack of confidence or trust in making decision with decisions and lack of
awareness of a single provider of knowledge and discipline. These hurdles can be overcome
with an open attitude and feelings of mutual trust and respect. In terms of a corporate
development, team-building exercises are important not only for the immediate experiences
of the activities performed by the teams but also for the group skills, communications and
bonding the results. Each member in a team has their own roles in team building in
successfully performing their own task which has been allocated. This helps the project
manager of the team in keeping them self-updated about the progress as well as the issues,
which are faced by them. This helps them by taking the responsibility on them to manage
their own day to day work. After identifying the strengths, opportunities and weakness the
members of the organizations are assigned respective roles.
Few benefits of effective team building are:
 Improves the morale and leadership skills
 Highlights the barriers which prevents the organization in achieving
innovations and creativity in its work and production.
 Clearly defines the objectives and goals of the organization
 Improves various process and procedures in achieving the company aims and
goals