Youth inspired to be part of change

OTHER ACTIVITIES at the conference included communityand policy-level advocacy trainings which benefited some 60 attendees on day one. The conference also included an allday exhibition and visual and performing arts competitions. St Lucia and Japan were among the international winners, with the former finishing second and third in the poetry competition and Japan finishing third in the poster competition. May Day High School copped the coveted champion school award for top participation across several competitions.

“It is conferences like this one that equip young people with the facts they need to champion the cause of combating climate change. After both days, I left empowered and inspired to be a part of the change the world needs to see. I believe I speak on behalf of all youth delegates when I say it was a fulfilling experience, and we are now ready to vehemently put forth our proposals to our governments and heads of state,” said Shanielle Allen of Glenmuir High School and member of the Jamaica delegation in her reflection of the proceedings.

Following the conference, two delegates, Michael Morgan of Campion College, Jamaica, and Ashred Norris from Dominica have been selected to represent their respective countries in youth-related events at COP 23 in Germany this November.

The conference is a joint initiative between the USAIDfunded Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change II Project, the United Nations Development Programme’s Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership Project and the Government of Jamaica.

It is conferences like this one that equip young people with the facts they need to champion the cause of combating climate change.