International Youth Day Competition Winners Awarded

The top performers in the photo and video competition held in celebration of International Youth Day 2016 were presented with attractive prizes at an awards ceremony held on Thursday (August 18) at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in Kingston.

The competition, under the theme ‘The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Poverty Reduction’, was organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Young people across the island were invited to submit photo and video entries depicting their role in achieving the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, which was adopted by world leaders at a United Nations (UN) Summit in September 2015.

Countries have committed to mobilising efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

First place in the competition went to Clarendon Youth Information Centre (YIC) volunteer Jason Whyte, who submitted a video on the importance of education.

Queen’s High School graduate Leneka Rhoden placed second for her video highlighting the need for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities; while third place went to Youth for Change Foundation volunteer Toni-Kay Bromfield, for her photos on environmental awareness. They received cash prizes, trophies and gift baskets.

Senior Director, Youth and Adolescent Policy Division in the Ministry, Michelle Small Bartley, told JIS News that the competition was part of efforts to assist young people to connect with important global issues.

“What we try to do as a division is to encourage our young people to take a lead role in ensuring poverty eradication. Our initiatives aim to put youth in the lead role, helping them to understand their role in conservation, how they can assist in environmental sustainability and play an active part in keeping Jamaica clean and eradicating poverty,” she said.

Meanwhile, Director, Sub-Regional Office, UNFPA, Sheila Roseau, who brought greetings at the function, noted that sustainable development is only achievable when all persons have the opportunity to enjoy basic human rights, health and employment to contribute to economic growth.

She said that achieving poverty reduction “will require that young people have access to the tools, skills and the mentorship that will enable them to participate more meaningfully in economic and social activities”.

The winning photos and videos can be viewed at: www.youthjamaica.com and on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

International Youth Day 2016, which was celebrated on August 12, focused on getting youth involved in discussion on issues such as poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.