Young philanthropist cops outstanding leader award
JÉNINE SHEPHERD, founder, board co-chair and president of Youths For Excellence Limited, received the Outstanding Leadership Award in Education at the Education 2.0 Conference at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on March 18. Shepherd, 25, was nominated by the selection committee for the honour. Youths For Excellence spans eight countries and has supported over 12,000 children and their families across the region in their quest to eradicate education inequity.
Shepherd is no stranger to recognition in the education field. In 2023, she received the Anthem Award for Best Young Person in Education, Art and Culture, alongside Oprah Winfrey’s Foundation, UNICEF, Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation, Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, Ben and Jerry’s Co Founders and many more.
Shepherd is also the recipient of the Diana Award for young persons engaged in social action and humanitarian work, which she received in 2021 from Princess Diana’s Estate. She received the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in Nation Building in 2018. Her efforts to aid young people landed her a spot on Ignite Caribbean’s 30 Under 30 List in 2021 and the award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Citizenship from the Roy Anthony Reid Foundation in 2022.
She was invited to consult on the development of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean via the World Bank Group, CARICOM and the United Nations and organised collaborations between multiple ministries of education across the region through her NGO, Youths For Excellence Limited. Her contributions on the Ready Set Great Steering Committee, an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme, earned her recognition from the body in 2023.
In a release to the media, she responded to receiving the latest award.
“I was contacted by Education 2.0 directly stating that I was shortlisted by them for the award because of their familiarity with my work. As a young person, this is something that would make you feel ‘over the moon’ given the prestige of the organisation. They hold conferences in education twice a year in Las Vegas and Dubai. I have sacrificed a lot to get here over the last eight and a half years, so naturally I’m grateful when it becomes the case that people now seek me out. I definitely won’t squander this opportunity to create more impact.
On her decision to make an impact in education, despite her background in neuroscience and economics, Shepherd noted:
“It is exactly because I see the value of a good education. I was extremely privileged to receive a scholarship of USD 87k per year to Amherst College, the number one small liberal arts college in the USA. That opportunity allowed me to pursue my passions in both the sciences and business. I’ve always wanted to be involved in the medical profession, but had a curiosity more towards owning medical facilities some day. That was what led me to get into both UWI medicine and law programmes on my provisional CAPE scores even before considering broadening my horizons by studying abroad. I saw myself in corporate law, structuring my future healthcare startups. I really have God and my mother to thank for everything. Academics has always been a huge part of my story and having seen all the doors that it opened for me, I have an obligation to help others seize similar opportunities for themselves. Education is the best tool for upward social mobility.”
The lineup of conference speakers included Dame Didi Wong, a venture capitalist and Hollywood Film Producer who was knighted by the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and St Helen of Spain, Michael Koch of the Michael Koch Group who managed iconic projects for Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Guess, and Samsung and many more. Shepherd was scheduled to speak on a panel about the role of EdTech in Student’s Well Being at the conference on March 20.