YES, WE CAN!
Young visionary working overtime to empower rural youth
HAVING ALREADY accomplished much in her just over two decades of existence, Chevening scholar Kristeena Monteith was excited to reveal to others that which sets her soul on fire.
According to the 24-yearold high achiever, “This very ‘millennial’ idea that the world can be changed if enough people decide to put their minds, bodies and money in service of planet-positive and people-positive action.
“We can end world hunger, eradicate poverty, give young men and young women equal opportunities, support the elderly in dignified life after retirement, and ensure people living with disabilities can live their best possible lives. We can take action against climate change and end war and genocide. But we won’t get there if we sit in exactly the same spot, year after year, saying it can’t be done, while others work, fight and die for it.”
Monteith said even if this plight proves impossible, and if the wealthy and the powerful mobilise all their resources against those on the right side of history, she still cannot think of a better use of her time than to actively work towards making Jamaica the place of choice to raise families, work and do business, and to play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.
Undeniably ambitious, the brilliant young visionary from St Thomas told The
Gleaner that she is working overtime to ensure both youth and rural development.
“Young people, particularly those in/from rural communities, are not really experiencing the development that young people in urban areas may be witnessing, and so more of us need to play more active roles in the economic, political and social development of our parishes,” she said.
And making it clear that she not only talks the talk, Monteith gave an overview of the impact that she is having on the youth.
“By creating a space for rural youth to share their experiences through my work with Talk Up Yout and Talk Up Radio, whatever action I choose to take in contributing to the development of my parish will come from a place of ongoing, creative consultation with them.
“Talk Up Yout has been an enormous help in connecting me with rural youth leaders across the island and even in my own parish. But beyond that, I’ve been making amazing contacts all around the world and building a network of people who are doing whatever they can to make a difference in one way or another, and they all have brilliant, effective ideas and solutions that can be modified and implemented locally,” Monteith said, adding that these people are also eager to partner with innovative Jamaicans, and that she has already begun to build such bridges.