POETA YOUTH REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING FINAL REPORT
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FINAL REPORT
POETA YOUTH
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On Monday 30th June, 2008; forty-nine (49) stakeholders from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Antigua and Barbuda; Dominica; Grenada; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines gathered in St John’s Antigua for a Regional Stakeholders Meeting entitled, “Youth and Employment in a KnowledgeDriven World.” The Meeting was part of the program, Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA) in the Eastern Caribbean and was made possible through the generous support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. This Report presents the results of the meeting’s activities. The Trust for the Americas is very grateful to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for its support to the POETA Youth program and looks forward to continued collaboration to address the situation of youth in the Eastern Caribbean, and the Americas as a whole. The Trust would also like to extend sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who attended the Regional Stakeholders Meeting for their active participation and for sharing their ideas and expertise to address this important issue. Thanks also to the facilitators, Beatrice Briggs and Tara Mirel, of the International Institute of Facilitation and Change (IIFAC) for making the Meeting’s activities interactive, engaging and thought-provoking. Special mention to Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Dr. Edward Mansoor and Minister of Education, Bertrand Joseph, both of Antigua and Barbuda, for their remarks at this important event. Finally, the Trust would like to extend thanks to the Organization of American States for its continued support to the POETA program. This publication is made possible through the generous support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The results and opinions presented in this document do not necessarily represent the opinions of the OAS, The Trust for the Americas, IIFAC, IDRC or any other donors of the POETA program. For more information on the POETA Youth program in the Eastern Caribbean, please contact Asha Williams, POETA Youth Program Manager at awilliams@oas.org or Adam Siegel, POETA Youth Regional Coordinator at asiegel@oas.org.
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POETA YOUTH
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Participants of the POETA Regional Stakeholders Meeting pose for a group photo with Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Education, Hon. Bertrand Joseph (seated fourth from right) at the close of the day’s proceedings on June 30, 2008.
Beatrice Briggs is internationally recognized for her ability to help groups maximize their effectiveness through participatory processes. She has facilitated groups ranging in size from three to 300 people and given training from Sri Lanka to Poland and from Canada to Patagonia. Beatrice is the author of Introduction to Consensus and A Practical Guide Core Issues and their Associated Factors Table 1
ICT Affordability • Computer accessible at the community for those who cannot afford in the home • Lowering costs of communication, computers and other hardware needed with ICTs Method of Promotion & Dissemination • Improvement in the collection of labor market information • Methods of dissemination of information re: opportunities for ICT education Comparative Advantage • Knowledge imparted in any ICT training should be applicable on the job • Areas of comparative advantages for ICT Curriculum Reform • Create new educational models- national social engineering • ICT instruction to start at the primary level • Dramatic shift in curricula at primary and secondary school Entrepreneurial Development • Students trained as entrepreneurs within school curriculum • Job creation • From school (primary) level need to aim youths to becoming entrepreneurs • Increase financial/support/assistance for young people to provide “seed money” Civil Society Involvement • CBOs, NGOs and churches should be encouraged to set up computer centres with instruction. Public Private Partnership • Deepening of public/private sector interface. • Financial institutions.
Table 2
Government Policy Changes • Accountability • Improved record keeping & collection • Dissemination Education • Access in schools and communities • Elementary education • Skills Private Sector Public Partnership • Job training • Local providers Attitudes – Adults and Youth • Trust • Appreciation • Communication Communication • Bridge gap between youth & adults • Mutual respect & appreciation • Create buy in Needs Analysis • Recognition of local talent & skill • Related training
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to Group Facilitation. Beatrice has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McGill Table 3
Access to ITCs • Government policy e.g. employment requirements • High cost ITC centres • Improve literacy More Funding • Funding agencies • NGOs • Less fortunate Attitude • Care & maintenance • Employers to young people • Business personnel towards youth • Youth to new technology Government Policies • More investment
Table 4
POETA YOUTH
Specialized Training • Not just basic skills training • Universal Regional Standards/ Certification • Networking and information sharing between CARICOM countries and their various training centres • Market Availability/ Employment Opportunities • Using market availability to inform training
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Entrepreneurial Training/ Personal Sustainability • Seeing cyberspace as their market Targeting Youth Communities • At-risk youth; incarcerated
Table 5
Sustainable Vision • Leadership • Will • Commitment • Long term planning Cultural Relevance • Local grassroots solutions • Develop youth to produce and market locally manufactured goods Finance • Collaboration between government and private sector.
Table 6
Training • More focus in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. • Remove barriers to technology use in primary level Access • Cost • Funding Skill Acquisition • Teachers and facilitators • Entrepreneurship development • Development of solutions for the Caribbean context.
University and a master’s in religion from the University of Chicago. Table 7
Access & Relevance • Access to computers and ICT training • Poorly defined output. • Not enough relevance in training. • Access to ICT but not proper knowledge in terms of ICT as relating to business or youth goals. Political Culture • Change in political culture • Need for non-partisan politics • Programs should be implemented despite party politics, continually and sustainability of programs, acceptance of partnerships Private Sector Involvement • Private sector, individuals, entrepreneurs to contribute to ICT development while also providing internship and employment opportunities for youth Curriculum Diversification • Critical and creating thinking leading to business development • Focus on IT in business world • Training to start at primary level Attitude Change • Change in attitude of people towards youth • Not seen as inherently bad, but worth the effort for funding for their personal development Accountability • Determination of who needs help – parents first • Accountability of parents/guardians for children and their development • Proper control of ICT/media to enhance the youth - favoring the positive aspects instead of negatives Funding • Disbursement processes, prioritization, immediacy of needs • Problems in funding agency culture
Table 8
Institutionalized Education • Revamp the curriculum • Provide entrepreneurial skills • Mentoring Drop-outs • Provide market skills Users to Producers • Value added • Market opportunities Mobilizing Resources • Moving to the next step • Enabling the development of components for ICT
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Email: bbriggs@iifac.org. Table 9
Focus on Youth • Establishing forum where young people can be made aware of opportunities in ICT • ICT as part of school curriculum Development of Clubs • Clubs targeted at ICT skills • Hosting ICT specific competitions • Developing mastermind groups Establishing ICT Centers • ICT guidance and accessibility to youth • Establishing sites Funding • Funding programs to assist with youth • Creating opportunities for youth entrepreneurship Attitudes • Value of education by youth be increased • Investing in ICTs be heightened • Higher value of education in families
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Table 1
Core challenge SOCIETAL ATTITUDES
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Governments
Civil society
Private sector
Youth
Family
How is society to deal with this to bring about change
Community
What about VALUES Respect- mutual respect Parental & adult leadership
Root Causes Lack of incentives Lack of perceived opportunities for personal life-long development
Traditional school curriculum Paucity of family & community support Weak enabling environment
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Table 2
Core challenge ICT AFFORDABILITY
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Needs/ Attitude
Building local capacity
Education/ Technology
POETA YOUTH
Harmonization of Government duties
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Root Causes
Lack of knowledge of technology & alternatives & relevance
Poor spending decisions (telephone, TV vs. computer/brand name clothing) Lack of harmonization of duties on ICT equipment
That’s a great one
Insightful
Why are we not investing
Agree- more local input needed
Expectation of freeness
Reliance & dependence of foreign investors, products & solutions
Lack of appreciation for what is available
Tara has over ten years of experience with large, medium and small organizations around
Table 3
Core challenge ACCESS TO GOVT PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICES. CREATE LOCAL CONTENT
Agent of change?
Agent of change? Not sure how funding agencies can create access to gov’t, private sector services
Int’l funding agencies
Politicians Policy makers
NGOs
Where is the youth
Young people can lobby & advocate therefore they are change agents
Media
Community leaders
Community
Root Causes Political will
Can you broaden “political will” to include political culture
Lack of continuity of programmes
Small population Attitude Lack of financial resources
Lack of financial resources
How to improve collective agency funding
Lack of sustainability/quick turn over What of private sector/ government partnership A lack of collaborative approaches by both sectors
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the world. She has artfully built effective teams through mutual learning and has a reputation
Table 4 Core challenge FAILURE OF GOVT POLICY TO TRANSLATE INTO AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN ICT & YOUTH DEVEOPMENT
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Government (changing own behaviour)
Private sector
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Personal/ individual responsibility What about political will
Parents via school system, PTA, etc. ICT institutions, trainers, service providers
Media
CBOs, FBOs, etc.
Youth
Well thought-out process
Root Causes
What about political will
ICT policy not well-communicated or known to majority of those affected
Transportation access to centres
Policy disconnected from reality, ICT reality – decision makers that lack vision or are absent from ICT field (rapic changes)
Failure to engage & involve relevant stakeholders –private sector –proper consultation Govt plan of action inadequate General attitudes, limits to embracing change
Govt inability to reach certain marginalized groups
Very good
Lack of personnel for proper training Political climate/bias
of engaging all types of participants, across different cultures and languages, under difficult
Table 5
Core challenge SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO REDUCE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND DELIQUENCY
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Educational institutions
Gov’t/leaders/ employers
CBOs/NGOs/FBOs
Family/ community
Youths are key stakeholders
What about promoting ICT as an innovative machinery for employment
Peers
Training/facilities/ choices/financing
Root Causes Poverty Attitude/values Lack of discipline Lack of people (capacity) with the specialized training to facilitate programs
Low wages Non-sustainable govt policy Crime (drugs/gangs) What of private sector involvement - Lack of private sector collaboration in the process
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circumstances. Tara earned her Master of Science in Community Development with a focus
Table 6
Core challenge LACK OF SUSTAINABLE VISION
Agent of change?
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Agent of change?
Politicians
Where is youth?
Teachers
Govt/ educational system
ICT users
Private sector
Young people are change agents too
Parents
Media
Root Causes
Lack of long term planning Lack of understanding of ICT’s full economic potential Emphasis on equity/fairness rather than equality of opportunities
Absence of public awareness & mobilisation campaign Not clear- clarify
Lack of resources
Fear of the impact of ICT Re. changing the status quo What about political will
in Public Participation at the University of California at Davis, and her Bachelor’s degree in
Table 7
Core challenge SKILL ACQUISITION/ DELIVERY
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Ministry of Education
Media
Government machinery
Parents/guardians
Financial institutions
Private sector
Youth participation feedback
Civil society NGOs/CBOs/FBOs
Root Causes Dependency on external (ICT) providers
Great point critical
Planning - gap
Perception of ICT as a tool for sustainable livelihood Infrastructure & info structure
Marketing - gap Lack of user buy-in
The need for ICT skills would - MOTIVATE
Funding – lack of … – complexity
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Sociology and Cultural Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Table 8
Core challenge INADEQUATE PARENTING
Agent of change?
Family
Agent of change? Not sure how funding agencies can create access to got govt, private sector services
Church
State policies, program mmes & infrastructure
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Schools
Peers – sharing role models
Media
Community
Youth
What is the connection between youth employment in ICT an inadequate parenting?
Root Causes
Children having children
Excellent point
Great- very relevant
Infiltration & acceptance of the negatives of western culture
Lack of basic education Breakdown of moral values & the role of discipline
Below the poverty line (financial challenge)
A bit ambiguous
Good one
Material world
Erosion of extended family support
Email: tara@iifac.org.
Table 9
Core challenge MOVE FROM USERS/CONSUMERS TO PRODUCERS
Agent of change?
Agent of change?
Family –encouragement to produce Education –from primary school upwards
Personal responsibility/youth
Media Social institutions Civil society
Govt policies & aid request
Private investors
Root Causes Culture of consumption (socialized as consumers)
That’s a great one!
Mystique associated with technology
Wonderful ideas!
Lack of confidence –not able to produce anything other than base products/agriculture
Production skills not easily accessible Lack of access to trainers/teachers
Great idea
Good ideas
Driven people would find resources
Lack of mentors
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POETA YOUTH 18
Ministry of Education
Youth
Who else should we involve? Private Sector Organizations
Barbuda Council
Media
• Roger de Peiza (Ministry of Information) *Facilitator • Cleon Athill (Department of Youth) • Roberta Williams (GARD Center) • Sonya John (Liat)
Multi-sector Workgroup Focusing on implementation Coordinating the sectors:
What next steps can we commit to?
Ministry of Tourism
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in ANTIGUA & BARBUDA?
Faith-Based Organizations -Evangelical Association -ACC
Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
Appendix C: Session 4 Results, Meeting by Country
State
NGOs Non-state actors
Training institutions & Telecom providers
Promote public/ private sectors partnerships to secure funding for ICT training and development
Who else should we involve?
Training can be relevant to needs of market
Employment needs and training impact assessments
What next steps can we commit to?
Employers
Creation of opportunities and the enabling environment for the creation of self employment
Youth
Specialized training to meet ICT niche markets e.g. ▪▪ software production ▪▪IT security ▪▪ wireless technology
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in DOMINICA?
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Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
POETA YOUTH
Establish additional computer labs in primary schools
2.
Employers Federation / Chamber of Industry & Commerce
Marine specialists
Specialized ICT training for job opportunities and self-employment *including persons with disabilities
4.
Construction Industry / Engineers Association
Development of public and private partnerships to make training available to meet the needs of employers
3.
Grenada Tourism & Hotel Association
Who else should we involve?
Enhance utilization of existing school computer labs
1.
What next steps can we commit to?
Media Associations
Sensitizing and marketing processes
5.
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in GRENADA?
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Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
Chamber of Industry & Commerce
Religious, sporting & other NGOs
Ministry of Information & Technology
Promotion of modernizing business processes
Who else should we involve?
Data collection/ labour market information on youth employment & skills
What next steps can we commit to?
Media
Promotion & marketing of ICT benefits
Parents
Increased use of web
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in ST. KITTS & NEVIS?
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Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
POETA YOUTH
Entrepreneurial development
Youth
Development partners/ regional institutions CARICOM/CSME/OECS
Advocacy • Public sector • Private sector • Civil society • Development partners • Youth recognition • CSME, OECS Economic union
Educational institutions SALCC UWI
Identification of additional resources for retention sustainability and increased capacity • Development partners • Trade representatives
Social (church &) partners/ politicians Private sector
Exploring new frontiers for absorption innovation/creativity new opportunities in non-traditional areas • Cultural • Music • Best practices • Ambassadors • Trade representatives
Who else should we involve?
Assessment of labour market needs products/ services • Access • Relevance • Quality of programmes • Curriculum • Job attachment • Job placement • Accreditation • Standards
Task force • Policy • Plan • Assessment tools
What next steps can we commit to?
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in ST. LUCIA?
22 Political directorate Media
Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
Agencies
Families
Media
Private sector leverage investment initiative created
Who else should we involve?
Government policy & incentives to encourage ICT investment
What next steps can we commit to?
Mobilisation of CSO to market & embrace initiatives
Design & execution of targeted projects
How can we work together to use ICTs to improve employment opportunities for youth in ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES?
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Improved employment opportunities for youth
TARGET
The Trust for the Americas
NAME
ORGANIZATION AND TITLE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
POETA YOUTH
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Ms. Holly Peters
Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Martin Cave
Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
Paula Lee
Cable and Wireless, Corporate Communications Manager
Julia Joseph
FirstCaribbean International Bank, Business Support Administrator
Sonya John
LIAT Ltd., Director, Customer Service
Dr. Edmond Mansoor
Ministry of Telecommunications, Minister of State
Bertrand Joseph
Ministry of Education, Minister of Education
Roger de Peiza
Ministry of Telecommunications, ICT Consultant
Cleon Athill
Ministry of Education, Director Youth Affairs
Guerin Hunte
Department of Youth Affairs, Youth Officer
Karen Lisa Mitchell
Free Trade & Processing Zone, Office Manager
Gladwin Henry
Antigua & Barbuda International Institute of Technology, President
Tamara Huggins
Gender Affairs, Program Officer
Nana Oye Hesse
Gender Affairs, Program Officer
Byron Maxam
Community Development,, Welfare Aid
George Thomas
Ministry of Agriculture, OAS/A&B Govt
Vier Dublin
Antigua and Barbuda National Training Agency, CEO
Ika Fergus
Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Youth Forum. President
Cleveroy Thomas
Youth Ambassador
Anika Aska
GARD Center
Angela Ephraim
GARD Center, Deputy Director
Roberta Williams
GARD Center, Executive Director DOMINICA
Achille Chris Joseph
Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce, Chief Executive Officer
Timothy Lavinier
Ministry of Education, ICT Specialist
Mr. Jules Pascal
Youth Development Division, Chief Youth Development Officer
Mrs. Annie St. Luce
Social Centre, Coordinator Adult Skills Training Program (ASTP)
Kelver Darroux
National Youth Council, President/Instructor GRENADA
Cecil Edwards
Grenada Employers Federation, Executive Director
Eunice Sandy-David
Ministry of Youth, Permanent Secretary
Lincoln Morgan
Ministry of Education, Director of Student Support Services
Mr. Alvin Campbell
New Life Organization, Executive Director
Judy Antoine
GRENCODA, Executive Director
The Trust for the Americas is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization affiliate of the
ST KITTS AND NEVIS Mr. Russel Williams
IT Facility, Director
Mr. Geoffrey Hanley
Ministry of Education, Director Youth Development
Dr. Ruth Thomas
Curriculum Development Unit, Director
Lenard Spencer Amory Department of Labour, Acting Labour Commissioner Mr. Terry Morris
St. Paul’s Community Council, Social Development Officer
Thenford Grey
Project Strong, Member of Advisory Council ST LUCIA
Brian Louisy
St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Rufina Frederick
Ministry of Education, Permanent Secretary
Ms. Dale Bernard
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Economic Planning and National Development, Economist
Victor Reid
Ministry of Social Transformation, Public Service, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports, Youth Officer
Selma St. Prix
National Skills Development Centre, General Manager
Mr. Ezra Jn Baptiste
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Head Social Policy Unit
Jerry George
Digicel, Public Relations Manager – EC
ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES St Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber Of Commerce, President Ms. Shirla Francis
Ministry of Telecommunications, Permanent Secretary
Carlos Williams
Ministry of Social Development, Youth Officer - Youth Affairs Department
Colin Bacchus
National Centre for Technological Innovation, Director
Lois Dublin
Marion House, Coordinator - Youth Assistance Project
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Organization of American States (OAS) and was established in 1997 to promote private and public sector participation in projects that reflect the main goals of the OAS. The Trust is based at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC with the mission of executing capacity building programs, both for individuals and organizations. As an affiliate of the OAS, the Trust develops and executes targeted development programs that respond to the needs of OAS member states. Leveraging in-kind contributions from OAS member states, in-kind expertise from the OAS and cash donations from both the public and private sectors, the Trust executes capacity building projects in over 20 countries in the Americas. The Trust’s programs emphasize capacity building in the following areas: • • •
Transparency and Governance Promoting Economic Opportunity Corporate Social Responsibility
The Trust implements its programs through local partner organizations, with support from over 100 public and private sector partners in more than 20 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. www.trustfortheamericas.org
POETA POETA YOUTH
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Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas, POETA, is a hemispheric program that provides marginalized populations with job-ready information and communication technology (ICT) skills. WHERE IT ALL STARTED: In 2004, The Trust for the Americas developed a pilot project in Guatemala, through the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Program, to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through ICT skills training. In its first year, our two Guatemala centers trained more than 500 people and more than 25 local businesses became involved as partners of the program.As a result of the success in Guatemala, Microsoft agreed to expand the program with twelve additional centers in other countries of Latin America. As part of the expansion, the General Secretariat of the OAS pledged to support and enhance the program’s visibility. This three way partnership became “POETA”. POETA – THE BASICS: POETA Centers are Digital Opportunity Centers that provide training in job-ready computer skills and where possible, serve as after-hours community computer centers, providing both internet access and additional skills training for the larger community. In addition, many centers offer specialized skills training programs, such as computer repair and maintenance and micro-enterprise training.
to
address
Job-readiness and Job-skills training: This may be the first job opportunity for many people in the program. Like any first time job seekers, they need skills and information on how to prepare for the world of work and address particular issues faced by marginalized communities in the workplace. Civic Education: Through our local partners, POETA Youth training incorporates civic education modules the social factors contributing to youth risk. HIV/ AIDS education and awareness, conflict resolution training, and other civic education components complement the ICT and job readiness training to make at-risk youth more employable and ready to confront the challenges that affect their daily lives.
Job placement and Business Development: POETA actively seeks job placement opportunities, creating spaces where local business and participants can meet to promote employment. Where applicable, POETA also works to improve business opportunities for our graduates by facilitating credit and connecting their businesses with potential customers. Awareness and Visibility: POETA works to inform and educate local business and governments on the importance of giving fair employment access to marginalized populations. The greater public is also educated on the importance of equal access to economic opportunity for all. Today, with more than 100 public and private sector partners, leveraging knowledge, goodwill, cash and infrastructure across eighteen countries, POETA serves as a model for public-private sector cooperation. The success of POETA in Latin America enabled the Trust to leverage support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), CISCO Systems Inc, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Microsoft to allow POETA’s expansion to Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines. This program is specifically targeted at at-risk youth in the Eastern Caribbean.
Expanding POETA’s reach and ensuring its sustainability requires strategic alliances with governments, the private sector, academia and other non-governmental organizations. New partners allow POETA to expand its current centers and open new ones.
IDRC Support to the POETA Youth Program In October, 2007, the Trust for the Americas received funding from the International Development Research Center to complement the POETA Youth program in the Eastern Caribbean. This support enhances the POETA training module and incorporates several initiatives that would lead to more information gathering to strengthen the program. Components of the IDRC support to the POETA Youth program includes: • Design and development of an interactive on-line civic education program for at-risk youth; • Development of relevant and appropriate content related to the POETA Program’s core curriculum to strengthen The POETA Youth Web Portal, foster dialogue and knowledge exchange among youth participants from the six participating countries; • Design, development and implementation of a monitoring mechanism and
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methodology for measuring the impact of ICT training on at-risk youth participating in the POETA program; and • Promotion of dialogue among Caribbean policy makers on the importance and potential leverage of ICTs as tools to promote the goals of youth development in the Caribbean. The Regional Stakeholders Meeting held in Antigua and Barbuda on June 30, 2008 was the first major stakeholder forum to take place under the IDRC support to the POETA Youth program. Over the course of the day, forty-nine (49) public, private and civil society participants from six OECS countries participated in various activities focused on youth and employment challenges through the lens of information and communications technologies. This Report presents the findings of those discussions, which provides a framework for improving the job placement and job readiness components of the POETA program; creating stronger partnerships regionally to address youth challenges in the OECS region and strengthening the involvement of major stakeholders in youth-related programs.
Background: Challenges for Youth in the Eastern Caribbean Like their counterparts across the globe, youth in the Eastern Caribbean are facing increased economic, education and social challenges in a changing global economy. As the world becomes more developed, youth in the Eastern Caribbean, who represent one-quarter of the OECS population1, find themselves facing the challenges of high unemployment and limited skills relevant to the job market. They are increasingly at risk of social and economic ills, dimming the light, on what would have otherwise been bright futures. POETA YOUTH
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The data on the situation of youth in the Eastern Caribbean reveals the challenges they face in the region. The most striking statistics relate to youth unemployment levels in the region. Within the last decade, youth unemployment has been estimated at 50-75% of total unemployment in the OECS (OECS, 2000). More recently, youth unemployment rates have at times, tripled adult unemployment rates, ranging from 13% in Antigua and Barbuda; 11% in St. Kitts and Nevis; 24% in Grenada, 39% in St. Lucia; 39% in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to a crippling 56% in Dominica.2 A major contributing factor to the challenge of youth unemployment is the inadequate skills training to young people prior to their entry to the job market, at times focused in areas unrelated to the needs of the job market. A recent World Bank study noted that this challenge was reinforced by employers in the OECS region, who identified skills shortages were a significant constraint to improving the competitiveness in the region.3 The Bank’s presentation, Enhancing Skills in the Eastern Caribbean (2006) also noted several challenges with inadequate skills training. This included the fact that 80% of schooling ended at the secondary level, which was focused on preparing students for tertiary education and provided little labor-market training to students. Therefore most school leavers in the region leave school ill-equipped with finding employment due to lack of relevant skills. Recent studies also provide a summary analysis of the current landscape with regard to rising unemployment in the Caribbean and potential opportunities to reverse these trends by improving the competitiveness of Caribbean businesses in the international market.4 They cite a significant skills gap that is inhibiting small and medium size businesses from keeping up with competitors in Latin America and other regions. This skills gap lies principally within the realm of ICTs, where these enterprises are unable to compete in regional markets because of their inability to find employees skilled in ICT applications, including business planning/accounting software, on-line applications, and service industry applications such as on-line reservation system and website development/maintenance. Crime, delinquent activity and at-risk behavior are also on the increase in this climate. Studies show that not only has violence grown in most of the region in recent decades, but
youth are also disproportionately represented in the incidence and severity of this trend, both as victims and as perpetrators.5 This has become a significant concern for the region’s leaders, becoming the topic for major discussions at OECS, CARICOM and OAS meetings in recent years. It is in this climate that the POETA Youth program is currently being implemented to address the situation of youth in the Eastern Caribbean. The expansion of the POETA Youth program to the region was borne out of a need expressed by leaders from the Eastern Caribbean member states of the OAS to address the challenges of young people through the POETA program model. The POETA model, which is based on the empowerment and training of marginalized communities, focuses on information and communications technologies to provide youth with tools to address these challenges. The POETA process in the region also involves the active participation of local training organizations; civil society, government and the private sector to ensure that training is combined with a holistic and collaborative approach to addressing these challenges. This Report on the POETA Regional Stakeholders Meeting highlights the ideas presented by civil society, government and private sector stakeholders on the main challenges with youth unemployment in the OECS, as well as the mechanisms to address these challenges. The results of these interactive sessions are provided in this report and will inform the job readiness and job preparation components of the POETA Youth program. It is also hoped that stakeholders network with each other in their various sectors and countries to follow-up on the ideas put forward to addressing these issues. Executive Summary On June 30, 2008, 49 stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society, from six countries in the Eastern Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines), met in St. John’s Antigua to discuss the topic, “Youth and Employment in a Knowledge Driven World.” The meeting’s primary objective was to share information regarding the current situation regarding youth skills and employment in the region and to obtain feedback on, and support for, the POETA Youth program which is currently being implemented in the aforementioned countries. The Stakeholders invited to attend the meeting were selected based on the work in their respective fields, relevant to employment, youth, information and communications technologies and training. It was recognized that the stakeholder groups in attendance were critical to informing how the POETA program could more effectively address youth employment challenges in the region, given the scale of the problem. Senior officials from all sectors present also shared the wealth of their years of experience in civil society, government and private sector. In the Government sector, Ministries dealing with Youth, Education, Community Development, Labor and Telecommunications were represented. Civil society organizations, such as training organizations, youth organizations and community non-government organizations were also in attendance, while private sector representatives from major companies and Chambers of Commerce also gave their unique insight into these challenges. Working in a variety of small group configurations (first in “mixed” groups, then by sector and finally by country), the participants engaged in vibrant conversations aimed at networking with each other and defining the key challenges regarding youth employment in the region. Throughout the course of the day, six principle needs were identified: • Financial investment in youth training, training of trainers and ICT infrastructure • Educational reform including reform in ICT education at the primary and secondary
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