The Caribbean Youth Summit (CYS) kicked off at the AC Mariott Hotel with a resounding call for youth across the Caribbean to play an active role in shaping both national and regional development agendas.
Charting a course for sustainable development
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Hon. Marsha Smith, delivered an address at Wednesday’s opening of the four-day Caribbean Youth Summit (CYS).
She emphasized the critical role of the region’s youth in achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing that the Caribbean finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its pursuit of these global objectives.
Reimagining the post-pandemic future
In light of the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Smith called for a collective reassessment and recommitment to the SDGs.
“We are recognizing that coming out of the COVID-19 [pandemic], there needs to be a resetting, a coming together again at the table, to see where we are, and where those goals are related,” the State Minister said.
Youth voices: Catalysts for change
The Minister highlighted the significance of the youth summit as a platform for Caribbean youth to share their diverse perspectives and take ownership of opportunities to influence national policymakers.
The SDGs: A blueprint for progress
The SDGs, a framework designed to address a wide range of global challenges, including ending poverty, eradicating hunger, ensuring health and well-being, and promoting quality education, served as a focal point for discussions throughout the summit.
A collaborative endeavor
The inaugural CYS has attracted a diverse assembly of young people and key stakeholders from across the Caribbean region
Participants have come together to exchange ideas, share experiences, and devise innovative solutions to tackle gender-based violence and other cross-cutting issues.
The event, staged by CARICOM in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Youth Council and the Ministry of Education and Youth, has garnered funding from international partners, including the European Union (EU)-United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative Caribbean Regional programme, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
 kicked off at the AC Mariott Hotel with a resounding call for youth across the Caribbean to play){kind=link}