One of the most inspiring moments of the 2nd Wider Caribbean Regional Risk Conference 2025 was the Youth Townhall, a dynamic, youth‑designed session that brought together young leaders from across the Wider Caribbean Region to share their vision for the future. Held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle Resort, online for virtual participants across the Caribbean and in the Diaspora and livestreamed globally via UWI TV, the Townhall created a powerful platform for youth voices to shape the regional development agenda.
Co‑facilitated by Jamala Alexander, former CCRIF Policy and Research Analyst and youth climate advocate, and Zachary Murray, a dual Jamaican-Trinidadian graduate student at Syracuse University, the session mirrored the main conference themes, but through a distinctly youth‑centered lens. Their goal was clear: create a space where young people could articulate the development they want, grounded in lived experience, creativity, and bold imagination.
The Townhall opened with an interactive Mentimeter icebreaker, inviting participants to share one word that captures their vision for a resilient Caribbean. Words like innovative, united, equitable, and sustainable filled the screen, setting the tone for a session rooted in hope and agency. From there, youth engaged in four thematic discussions:
1. Economic Risks & Opportunities
Participants explored the emerging “new economies” — green, blue, yellow, white — and used live polling to identify which ones they believe should anchor the Caribbean’s development trajectory. The conversation highlighted a desire for economies that create meaningful jobs, protect natural resources, and foster innovation.
2. Financing for the Future
With governments facing limited fiscal space, youth were asked to allocate a hypothetical 100 points across climate, education, health, and entrepreneurship. Their choices revealed a strong preference for investment in education and climate resilience, underscoring a generation deeply aware of the long-term stakes.
3. Misinformation, Disinformation & AI
After viewing a UNESCO Caribbean video, participants reflected on the role of youth as “truth detectives” in an era of deepfakes and digital manipulation. Through Mentimeter, they assessed their responsibility in promoting digital literacy, combating misinformation, and shaping ethical AI governance.
4. Climate, Nature & Resilience
Using data from UNICEF’s U‑Poll in Haiti as a starting point, youth discussed how they are experiencing climate change in their daily lives. They shared what “climate justice” means at the local level and the roles they want to play - from community educators to policy advocates to innovators in nature‑based solutions.
The session culminated in a powerful exchange with the heads of CCRIF, CDB, and CAF, where youth presented one concrete action each institution should take to improve the lives of Caribbean young people.
The Townhall closed with a final word cloud capturing what participants gained from the experience. Words like empowered, hopeful, connected, and motivated filled the screen — a testament to the energy and clarity young people brought to the conversation.
The Youth Townhall was more than a side event; it was a reminder that the Caribbean’s future resilience depends on the ideas, leadership, and imagination of its young people. As one facilitator put it, “The future belongs to us — and today showed we are ready to shape it.”
