Youth unemployment, limited access to funding for young entrepreneurs, the potential impact of the approaching increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy on July 1 and youth not being taken seriously when making proposals to Government, were all issues raised at a Youth Forum held yesterday.
The Global Shapers Bridgetown Hub hosted the Youth Forum at the Olympus Theatres in Sheraton Centre yesterday, under the theme “Barbados Economy: Youth Perspectives”.
Kemar Saffrey, Incoming Curator of the Global Shapers Bridgetown Hub, indicated that the Global Shapers Community is a worldwide network of hubs developed and led by promising young leaders who want to build on their achievements and entrepreneurial drive, to make a positive contribution to their communities.
“The Youth Forum is designed to offer young people an opportunity to voice their opinions, share ideas, and think together about what they can do to improve the current situation in Barbados,” he said of the initiative.
The Forum was moderated by talk show moderator and youth advocate, Corey Lane, and he engaged a four-member panel consisting of youth activist Imran Richards, economist Jeremy Stephen, entrepreneur Kemar Saffrey and BGLAD founder and human rights activist, Donnya Piggott. Various youth led organisations, such as the UWI Guild of Students and the United Youth Leaders of Barbados were present, as well as youth from secondary schools.
Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, economist Jeremy Stephen acknowledged that in a few years’ time, youth will have to compete globally for jobs and may even find that a number of services will be computerised, reducing the need for human effort. He therefore advised youth to choose their career paths carefully and to work on their critical thinking, as well as people skills.
Entrepreneur Kemar Saffrey meanwhile recounted numerous instances where he experienced a number of setbacks in approaching government for assistance in implementing proposals for his charity, the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, but he noted that he did not let this deter him. Instead, he decided to seek other avenues for assistance. As such, he encouraged youth to follow their passion, to not be deterred by those who view them as “too young” to accomplish great things and to work in a way that their initiatives speak for themselves.
Youth activist Imran Richards meanwhile called on youth to be confident in themselves and to be patient, since reaching the pinnacle of success does not come overnight. Human rights activist, Donnya Piggott meanwhile advised youth to look for areas in which they could make money to advance themselves and still assist their country, for example, getting involved in community tourism.