Youth Urged to Speak on Pressing Global Issues

Jamaica’s youth are being encouraged to add their voices to the discussion on pressing global issues, such as climate change and poverty.

Senior Director in the Youth and Adolescent Policy Division, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Yanique Williams, made the call while  addressing the National Youth Leaders Symposium on Poverty and Climate Change at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Mona, St. Andrew, on Wednesday (November 20).

Ms. Williams said youth participation is key in addressing the challenges, noting that, “this symposium [provided] a meaningful platform to amplify the youth voices and showcase their solutions.”

“Climate change and poverty are challenges that know no boundaries, requiring innovative thinking, collaborative action, and an unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind,” she further pointed out.

Ms. Williams said the symposium’s staging aligned with Jamaica’s national celebration of Youth Month under the theme: ‘IMPACT – Innovative Minds, Purposeful Action: Collective Triumphs’.

She assured that the Ministry remains steadfast in its mission to empower the youth through education, skills training, and opportunities that enable meaningful participation in Jamaica’s development.

Several young people, representing tertiary institutions and youth advocacy groups, participated in the Symposium.

Also in attendance were His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, in his capacity as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, and UNDP officials.

Ms. Williams expressed her appreciation to His Royal Highness for his dedication to amplifying youth voices across the globe.

She said the Ministry acknowledges the significant role of strategic partnerships, particularly with the UNDP, in facilitating numerous projects, citing initiatives in social justice and biodiversity, and the Reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons in Jamaica joint programme (SALIENT).

“Partnerships, like these, help us in our commitment to empowering young people, enabling them to lead and drive impactful change, here in Jamaica, and around the world,” Ms. Williams stated.