CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Attend Climate Change and Health Training in 2024

The CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) are participating in a 'CARICOM Climate Change and Health Orientation and Training' from April 23-26, 2024. The workshop, launched at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, aims to empower CYAs and other youth leaders with technical knowledge to address the global challenge of climate change.

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett emphasized the importance of empowering youth as agents of change to build a more resilient and sustainable future in the CARICOM region, where youth make up 60% of the population. "The Secretariat is committed to promoting meaningful youth engagement and empowering the next generation of leaders to act on climate change, health, and other critical issues facing the CARICOM community," Dr. Barnett stated at the event.

The training seeks to heighten the understanding of youth leaders on the health implications of climate change and encourage their involvement in devising and executing effective measures to counter these effects. It was attended by the Guyana Minister of Health, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, and representatives of Development Partners.

Why this matters: Empowering youth leaders to tackle the health impacts of climate change is vital for building resilience in the Caribbean, one of the regions most vulnerable to global warming. The training reflects CARICOM's commitment to meaningfully engage its majority youth population in addressing critical challenges facing the community.

The Secretary-General recognized the exemplary initiatives of youth leaders Dwane Hendrickson and Renee Atwell in addressing climate change and health challenges in their communities. The CARICOM Climate Change and Health Orientation and Training for youth leaders coincides with the celebration of International Girls in ICT Day on April 25, 2024, which CARICOM is marking with a hybrid event focused on the theme 'Inspiring Youth Innovation, Leading Change in CARICOM.'

Key Takeaways

• CARICOM Youth Ambassadors to receive climate change & health training
• Training aims to empower youth as agents of change for resilience
• CARICOM committed to engaging youth on critical community challenges
• Training coincides with International Girls in ICT Day celebration
• Recognizes youth leaders' initiatives addressing climate change & health