Barbadian youth and those around the world are being encouraged to let their voices be heard on causes that are important to them, especially those that impact their future.
During the virtual launch of the Healthy and Environment-Friendly Youth (HEY) campaign, this morning, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley endorsed its objectives, and urged the youth to become activists and let their voices be heard on issues that were important to them.
“Your consciousness of and your activism on these issues can only lead to improved awareness and engagement by the millions of other young people, whom you have the potential to reach through HEY….
“For years, I have been asking our young people to take on the generational challenges of their generation, to ensure that the world in which you are going to live, is one in which you can be a craftsman of your fate,” the Prime Minister stated.
Ms. Mottley also praised the HEY initiative and commended those involved. “I’d like to salute you as you embark on this bold socially conscious journey to change the hearts and to change the minds of a world that for too long has ignored the consequences of its action. You’re never too young to start….
“I salute you because clearly you understand. While your generation has not caused the problems you now seek to correct, you have chosen not to distance yourself from the solutions that are critical if we are to make this world better,” she said.
Prime Minister Mottley pointed out that with the use of technology, a “vast and immense” audience could be reached to find other young people who share the same ideals and passions, and are willing to work together to create a global movement that would not only seek to highlight the issues that impact their future, but to present solutions that could be implemented.
She noted that the youth are never too young to have their voices heard on issues that were important to them. “If youth stand by and do nothing, then I tell you, you will simply live in a world that will continue to deteriorate,” she surmised.
The HEY campaign was started by The Ashley Lashley Foundation in April 2020, in partnership with UNICEF Eastern Area Office. It is a Caribbean-initiated campaign on climate change and health with a global outreach.
The HEY campaign seeks to build bridges between youth in the Caribbean and around the world, with a vision to create a generation of young people who are committed to adopting lifestyles that are both healthy and environmentally friendly.
It also seeks to implement leading global advocacy efforts to build inclusive societies where priority is given to life and dignity, rather than economic growth alone.
Forty young people, some of whom are Caribbean-based from 23 countries, have joined the global initiative since its April 2020 start.