CYEN is the largest youth environmental network in the Caribbean and spans over 17 territories. The organisation holds a distinguished track record of youth lead environmental and sustainable development advocacy. This year CYEN is focusing on the issues of climate change as well as the promotion of sustainable livelihoods through education and awareness of young Caribbean people. Renee Boyce-Drakes a member of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) Barbados, and current Regional Chairman of the CYEN, will be a youth delegate in the first World Youth Meeting to launch the NMC programme (NMC from the Esperanto language, Ni, mondlokaj civitanoj or 'We, global-local citizens') which will be held in Puglia-Italy from January 19th to 21st 2010. The meeting will examine current perspectives on sustainable human development; set a common agenda of action; share knowledge and start up new initiatives to promote sustainable development and the participation of young people in decisions making at both global and local levels. Particular emphasis will be placed on cities and urban areas.
Ms. Boyce-Drakes, who will also be representing the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) at the Meeting, will be one of only three Caribbean nationals in the 500 youth delegates from 90 countries that will gather to share their views with thought-leaders from a range of cultural backgrounds and experiences representing government, politics, science and culture, international organizations, media, civil society and the private sector.
The meeting will revolve around three keynote lectures, one for each of the meeting days and about 15 thematic workshops. The lectures will address the three main topics for the Meeting: Perspectives And Challenges For Democracy In A World of Global Cities, Environmental Sustainability As Precondition For Human Development and The New Frontier For Social and Economic Development After The Global Financial Crisis. The workshops will focus on global issues for development and the potential of tackling them at national level.
Ms. Boyce-Drakes, will be focusing on the environmental aspect of the meeting, specifically with relation to “A sustainable human society created by balancing consumption, shortening supply chains, reducing waste and recycling waste.” She believes that “this event will offer the opportunity to gain a better perspective of youth views on the issues that are currently affecting us globally and to develop methods of handling the problems that will arise in the future as a result of these issues, especially as it relates to current consumption behaviours and how that will affect the future of the Caribbean Region.
For more information on the NMC World Youth Meeting please contact: Renee Boyce-Drakes, Regional Chairman, CYEN-Regional Office rbdrakes@gmail.com; Tel#: 4376055/56
The BYBT is one of the leading youth entrepreneurship organisations in the Caribbean, assisting young people to develop their self-confidence and economic independence. It contributes to the community by providing a medium for self-employment and job creation. The Trust provides the much needed service of turning good ideas into good business and the program is open to those aged between18 – 35." v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="671" height="111"/>