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UN Partners with Saint Lucia Government to Commemorate International Youth Day

14 August 2023

UN Team members sit behind a table backed by an SDG poster interacting with members of the public standing before them. — Caption: The UN Team: (L to R) – Kina Nicholas, UNESCO Youth and Social Development Advocate, Lorraine Nicholas, UN Country Coordination Officer for Saint Lucia, and Vincent Lewis, UNICEF Programme Coordinator for Saint Lucia.

Photo: © UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

UN and Saint Lucia government partner to empower youth for peace and a safe society.

Castries, Saint Lucia – August 14, 2023 – Youth Development has been prioritized as a salient vehicle for economic growth and development in Saint Lucia. In commemoration of International Youth Day 2023, the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, in the Government of Saint Lucia partnered with several organizations from the public and private sector to host a Youth Expo. The theme for the Youth Expo was “Empowering of Youth for Peace, Unity, and a Safe Society”.

The Saint Lucia office of the United Nations Multi-Country Office for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean was among several organizations showcasing products, services, and information relevant to youth development. Working as One UN on the ground in Saint Lucia, UN agencies joined forces to showcase the following:

Youth2030 – the UN’s global youth strategy which advocates for working both for and with youth.
UNICEF’s U-Report – digital platform for youth engagement.
UNESCO’s Youth Peace and Security (YPS) and Sheroes Initiative.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities for acceleration.
Opportunities for grant funding under the GEF/SGP Programme implemented by UNDP.

The Youth Expo attended by youth as well as persons of all ages across Saint Lucia, also provided an opportunity to boost visibility and increase awareness about the UN’s presence on the ground in Saint Lucia. Also on display were the Youth Economy agency (YEA), locally made products, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Planned Parenthood, Red Cross, Cadet Corps, the Saint Lucia Cancer Society, and young entertainers of music, dance, spoken word, poetry.

The Youth Expo was a success in raising awareness about the importance of youth development and the role of the UN in supporting young people in Saint Lucia. It is hoped that the event will help to inspire young people to get involved in their communities and to work towards a more peaceful, united, and safe society.