(Jamaica Gleaner) Young leaders from across Jamaica and the Caribbean were elated at United States President Barack Obama’s announced US$70 million investment in their development – through education, training and employment – revealed on Thursday at the youth leaders town hall held in the Assembly Hall at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus.
“I think that is a tremendous move. I have always said the youth is where it all starts and Mr. Obama is showing how important it is to invest in them, and from a young age. We need to invest more in them, engage them, they are the ones to take over, and to not only sustain but improve on what this generation will leave behind,” a beaming UNICEF goodwill Ambassador Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce told The Gleaner.
The Olympian added: “I am really pleased he also emphasised on the importance of investing in early childhood development, because that is where it starts, because investing in children from they are young allows them to grow into promising leaders, it makes a big difference to the positive growth of a nation.”
Under the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), which the president launched during his historic visit to Jamaica, the close to J$8-billion programme will be pumped into a number of projects, geared to expand opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and civil society activities.
Engaging a packed room of young leaders from across the Caribbean during his first visit to the island, Obama outlined his focus for their advancement, stating, “these investments will help young people in unemployed, impoverished and marginalised communities and give them a chance to gain the skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st century.”
He added: “As president, some of the initiatives I am most proud of are the ones that improve my country’s engagement with the next generation.”
