FINAL REPORT1

POETA YOUTH

REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING

FINAL REPORT

POETA YOUTH2

FINAL REPORT3

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 Knowledge-Driven 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.

POETA YOUTH4

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.

FINAL REPORT5

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 AffordabilityComputer 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 & DisseminationImprovement in the collection of labor market information•Methods of dissemination of information re: opportunities for ICT education•

Comparative AdvantageKnowledge imparted in any ICT training should be applicable on the job•Areas of comparative advantages for ICT•

Curriculum ReformCreate new educational models- national social engineering•ICT instruction to start at the primary level•Dramatic shift in curricula at primary and secondary school•

Entrepreneurial DevelopmentStudents trained as entrepreneurs within school curriculum•Job creation•From school (primary) level need to aim youths to becoming entrepreneurs•Increasefinancial/support/assistanceforyoungpeopletoprovide“seedmoney”•

Civil Society Involvement CBOs, NGOs and churches should be encouraged to set up computer centres with instruc-•tion.

Public Private PartnershipDeepeningofpublic/privatesectorinterface.•Financial institutions.•

Table 2 Government Policy ChangesAccountability•Improved record keeping & collection•Dissemination•

EducationAccess in schools and communities•Elementary education•Skills•

Private Sector Public PartnershipJob training•Local providers•

Attitudes – Adults and YouthTrust•Appreciation•Communication•

CommunicationBridge gap between youth & adults•Mutual respect & appreciation•Create buy in•

Needs AnalysisRecognition of local talent & skill•Related training•

POETA YOUTH6

to Group Facilitation. Beatrice has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McGill

Table 3 Access to ITCsGovernment policy e.g. employment requirements•High cost ITC centres•Improve literacy•

More FundingFunding agencies•NGOs•Less fortunate•

AttitudeCare & maintenance•Employers to young people•Business personnel towards youth•Youth to new technology•

Government PoliciesMore investment•

Table 4 Specialized TrainingNot just basic skills training•Universal•

Regional Standards/ Certification Networking and information sharing between CARICOM countries and their various training •centresMarketAvailability/EmploymentOpportunities•Using market availability to inform training•

Entrepreneurial Training/ Personal SustainabilitySeeing cyberspace as their market•

Targeting Youth CommunitiesAt-risk youth; incarcerated•

Table 5 Sustainable VisionLeadership•Will•Commitment•Long term planning•

Cultural RelevanceLocal grassroots solutions•Develop youth to produce and market locally manufactured goods•

FinanceCollaboration between government and private sector.•

Table 6 TrainingMore focus in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.•Remove barriers to technology use in primary level•

AccessCost•Funding•

Skill AcquisitionTeachers and facilitators•Entrepreneurship development•Development of solutions for the Caribbean context.•

FINAL REPORT7

University and a master’s in religion from the University of Chicago.

Table 7 Access & RelevanceAccess to computers and ICT training•Poorlydefinedoutput.•Not enough relevance in training.• Access to ICT but not proper knowledge in terms of ICT as relating to business or youth •goals.

Political CultureChange 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 DiversificationCritical and creating thinking leading to business development•Focus on IT in business world•Training to start at primary level•

Attitude ChangeChange in attitude of people towards youth• Not seen as inherently bad, but worth the effort for funding for their personal develop-•ment

AccountabilityDeterminationofwhoneedshelp–parentsfirst•Accountabilityofparents/guardiansforchildrenandtheirdevelopment•PropercontrolofICT/mediatoenhancetheyouth-favoringthepositiveaspectsinstead•of negatives

FundingDisbursement processes, prioritization, immediacy of needs•Problems in funding agency culture•

Table 8 Institutionalized EducationRevamp the curriculum•Provide entrepreneurial skills•Mentoring•

Drop-outsProvide market skills•

Users to ProducersValue added•Market opportunities•

Mobilizing ResourcesMoving to the next step•Enabling the development of components for ICT•

POETA YOUTH8

Email: bbriggs@iifac.org.

Table 9 Focus on YouthEstablishing forum where young people can be made aware of opportunities in ICT•ICT as part of school curriculum•

Development of ClubsClubs targeted at ICT skills•HostingICTspecificcompetitions•Developing mastermind groups•

Establishing ICT CentersICT guidance and accessibility to youth•Establishing sites•

FundingFunding programs to assist with youth•Creating opportunities for youth entrepreneurship•

AttitudesValue of education by youth be increased•Investing in ICTs be heightened•Higher value of education in families•

FINAL REPORT9

Table 1

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Governments Civil society

Private sector Family

Youth

Root Causes

Lack of incentives Traditional school curriculum

Lack of perceived opportunities for personal life-long development

Paucity of family & community support

Weak enabling environment

How is society to deal with this to bring about change

What about VALUESRespect- mutual respectParental & adult leadership

Community

Core challengeSOCIETAL ATTITUDES

POETA YOUTH10

Table 2

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Needs/Attitude

Building local capacity

Education/Technology

Harmonization of Government duties

Root Causes

Lack of knowledge of technology & alternatives & relevance

Reliance & dependence of foreign investors, products & solutions

Poor spending decisions (telephone, TV vs. computer/brand name clothing)

Lack of harmonization of duties on ICT equipment

Expectation of freeness

Lack of appreciation for what is available

InsightfulThat’s a great one

Why are we not investing

Agree- more local input needed

Core challengeICT AFFORDABILITY

FINAL REPORT11

Tara has over ten years of experience with large, medium and small organizations around

Table 3

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Int’l funding agencies

NGOs

PoliticiansPolicy makers

Community leaders

Media

Root Causes

Political will Small population

Lack of continuity of pro-grammes

Lack of financial resources

Attitude

Lack of financial resources

Lack of sustainability/quick turn over

Not sure how funding agencies can create access to gov’t, private sector services

Young people can lobby & advocate therefore they are change agents

What of private sector/ government partnershipA lack of collaborative approaches by both sectors

Can you broaden “political will” to include political culture

How to improve collective agency funding

Where is the youth

Community

Core challengeACCESS TO GOVT

PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICES.CREATE LOCAL CONTENT

POETA YOUTH12

the world. She has artfully built effective teams through mutual learning and has a reputation

Table 4

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Government (changing own behaviour)

Youth

Private sector Parents via school system, PTA, etc.

Media

CBOs, FBOs, etc.

Root Causes

ICT policy not well-communicat-ed or known to majority of those affected

Policy disconnected from reality, ICT reality – decision makers that lack vision or are absent from ICT

field (rapic changes)

Govt inability to reach certain marginalized groups

Failure to engage & involve relevant stakeholders –private sector –proper consultation

Govt plan of action inadequate

General attitudes, limits to embracing change

Lack of personnel for proper training

Political climate/bias

What about political will

Personal/ individual responsibility

What about political will

Transportation access to centres

Very good

Well thought-out process

ICT institutions, trainers, service

providers

Core challengeFAILURE OF GOVT POLICY TO TRANSLATE INTO AN

ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN ICT

& YOUTH DEVEOPMENT

FINAL REPORT13

of engaging all types of participants, across different cultures and languages, under difficult

Table 5

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Educational institutions

Family/community

Gov’t/leaders/employers Peers

CBOs/NGOs/FBOs

Root Causes

Poverty Low wages

Attitude/values

Lack of discipline

Non-sustainable govt policy

Crime (drugs/gangs)

Youths are key stakeholders

What about promoting ICT as an innovative machinery for employment

Lack of people (capacity) with the specialized training to facilitate programs

What of private sector involvement- Lack of private sector collaboration in the process

Training/facilities/choices/financing

Core challengeSPECIALIZED TRAINING TO RE-DUCE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

AND DELIQUENCY

POETA YOUTH14

circumstances. Tara earned her Master of Science in Community Development with a focus

Table 6

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Politicians ICT users

Teachers Private sector

Parents

Root Causes

Lack of long term planning Absence of public awareness & mobilisation campaign

Lack of understanding of ICT’s full economic potential

Emphasis on equity/fairnessrather than equality of op-portunities

Fear of the impact of ICTRe. changing the status quo

Where is youth?

Govt/ educational system

Not clear- clarify Lack of resources

What about political will

Young people are change agents too Media

Core challengeLACK OF SUSTAINABLE

VISION

FINAL REPORT15

in Public Participation at the University of California at Davis, and her Bachelor’s degree in

Table 7

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Ministry of Education

Media

Parents/guardians Government machinery

Financial institutions

Civil societyNGOs/CBOs/FBOs

Root Causes

Dependency on external (ICT) providers

Perception of ICT as a tool for sustainable livelihood

Planning - gap

Marketing - gap

Lack of user buy-in

Infrastructure & info structure

Funding – lack of … – complexity

Great point critical

The need for ICT skills would - MOTIVATE

Private sector

Youth participa-tion feedback

Core challengeSKILLACQUISITION/

DELIVERY

POETA YOUTH16

Sociology and Cultural Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Table 8

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Family Church

State policies, program mmes & infrastructure

Schools

Media

Root Causes

Children having children Infiltration & acceptance of the negatives of western culture

Lack of basic education

Below the poverty line (financial challenge)

Breakdown of moral values & the role of discipline

Material world

Erosion of extended family support

Not sure how funding agencies can create access to got govt, private sector services

Peers – sharing role models

A bit ambiguous

Great- very relevant

Excellent point

Good one

Youth

Community

Core challengeINADEQUATE PARENTING

What is the connection between youth employ-ment in ICT an inadequate parenting?

FINAL REPORT17

Email: tara@iifac.org.

Table 9

Agent of change? Agent of change?

Family –encouragement to produce

Personalresponsibility/youth

Education –from primary school upwards

Media

Govt policies & aid request

Root Causes

Culture of consumption (socialized as consumers)

Production skills not easily accessible

Mystique associated with technology

Lack of confidence –not able to produce anything other than base products/agriculture

Lack of access to trainers/teachers

Lack of mentors

Social institutionsCivil society

That’s a great one!

Wonderful ideas!

Great idea

Driven people would find resources

Good ideas

Private investors

Core challengeMOVEFROMUSERS/CONSUMERS

TO PRODUCERS

POETA YOUTH18

Appendix C: Session 4 Results, Meeting by Country

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

AN

TIG

UA

& B

ARB

UD

A?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Mul

ti-s

ecto

r W

orkg

roup

Focu

sing

on

impl

emen

tati

onCo

ordi

nati

ng t

he s

ecto

rs:

Roge

r de

Pei

za (

Min

istr

y of

Info

rmat

ion)

•

*Fa

cilit

ator

Cleo

n At

hill

(Dep

artm

ent

of Y

outh

)• Ro

bert

a W

illia

ms

(GAR

D C

ente

r)• So

nya

John

(Li

at)

•

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Min

istr

y of

Ed

ucat

ion

Yout

hPr

ivat

e Se

ctor

O

rgan

izat

ions

Barb

uda

Coun

cil

Med

iaM

inis

try

of T

ouri

sm

Fait

h-Ba

sed

Org

aniz

atio

ns-E

vang

elic

al A

ssoc

iati

on-A

CC

FINAL REPORT19

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

DO

MIN

ICA

?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Empl

oym

ent

need

s an

d tr

aini

ng im

pact

as

sess

men

ts

Trai

ning

can

be

rel

evan

t to

ne

eds

of m

arke

t

Prom

otepu

blic/

priv

ate

sect

ors

part

ners

hips

to

secu

re f

undi

ng

for

ICT

trai

ning

an

d de

velo

pmen

t

Crea

tion

of

oppo

rtun

itie

s an

d th

e en

ablin

g en

viro

nmen

t fo

r th

e cr

eati

on o

f se

lf e

mpl

oym

ent

Spec

ializ

ed t

rain

-in

g to

mee

t IC

T ni

che

mar

kets

e.g. soft

war

e

▪ prod

ucti

onIT

sec

urit

y ▪ w

irel

ess

▪ te

chno

logy

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Stat

eN

GO

sN

on-s

tate

ac

tors

Trai

ning

in

stit

utio

ns

& T

elec

om

prov

ider

s

Empl

oyer

sYo

uth

POETA YOUTH20

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

GRE

NA

DA

?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Empl

oyer

sFe

deration

/Ch

ambe

r of

Indu

stry

&

Com

mer

ce

Gre

nada

Tou

r-is

m &

Hot

el

Asso

ciat

ion

Cons

truc

tion

Indu

stry/

Engi

neer

sAs

soci

atio

n

Mar

ine

spec

ialis

tsM

edia

As

soci

atio

ns

Enha

nce

utili

zati

on o

f ex

isti

ng s

choo

l co

mpu

ter

labs

Esta

blis

h ad

diti

onal

co

mpu

ter

labs

in

pri

mar

y sc

hool

s

Dev

elop

men

t of

pub

lic a

nd

priv

ate

part

ners

hips

to

mak

e tr

aini

ng

avai

labl

e to

m

eet

the

need

s of

em

ploy

ers

Spec

ializ

ed IC

T tr

aini

ng f

or j

ob

oppo

rtun

itie

s an

d se

lf-e

m-

ploy

men

t*i

nclu

ding

pe

rson

s w

ith

disa

bilit

ies

Sens

itiz

ing

and

mar

keti

ng

proc

esse

s

1.2.

3.4.

5.

FINAL REPORT21

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

ST.

KIT

TS &

NEV

IS?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Datacolle

ction/

la

bour

mar

ket

info

rmat

ion

on

yout

h em

ploy

men

t &

sk

ills

Prom

otio

n of

m

oder

nizi

ng

busi

ness

pro

-ce

sses

Prom

otio

n &

m

arke

ting

of

ICT

bene

fits

Incr

ease

d us

e of

web

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Cham

ber

of

Indu

stry

&

Com

mer

ce

Relig

ious

, sp

orti

ng &

ot

her

NG

Os

Min

istr

y of

In

form

atio

n &

Tec

hnol

ogy

Med

iaPa

rent

s

POETA YOUTH22

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

ST.

LU

CIA

?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Yout

hDevelop

men

tpa

rtne

rs/

regi

onal

inst

itut

ions

CARICO

M/C

SME/

OEC

S

Soci

al (

chur

ch &

) pa

rtne

rs/po

liticians

Priv

ate

sect

or

Educ

atio

nal i

nsti

tuti

ons

SALC

CU

WI

Polit

ical

dir

ecto

rate

Med

ia

Task

for

ce•Polic

y•Plan

•Assessmen

ttools

Asse

ssm

ent

of

labo

ur m

arke

t ne

eds

prod

ucts/services

•Ac

cess

•Re

levance

•Qua

lityof

prog

ram

mes

•Cu

rriculum

•Jobattachmen

t•Jobplacem

ent

•Ac

cred

itation

•Stan

dards

Expl

orin

g ne

w f

ront

iers

fo

r ab

sorp

tion

inno

vation

/creativity

new

opp

ortu

niti

es in

no

n-tr

adit

iona

l are

as•Cu

ltural

•Music

•Be

stpractices

•Am

bassad

ors

•Trad

erepresen

tatives

Entr

epre

neur

ial

deve

lopm

ent

Iden

tific

ationof

addi

tion

al r

esou

rces

for

re

tent

ion

sust

aina

bilit

y an

d in

crea

sed

capa

city

•Develop

men

tpa

rtne

rs•Trad

erepresen

tatives

Advo

cacy

•Pu

blicsector

•Privatesector

•Civilsociety

•Develop

men

tpa

rtne

rs•Youthrecognition

•CS

ME,OEC

S

Econ

omic

uni

on

FINAL REPORT23

How

can

we

wor

k to

geth

er t

o us

e IC

Ts t

o im

prov

e em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h in

ST.

VIN

CEN

T &

TH

E G

REN

AD

INES

?

Wha

t ne

xt s

tep

s c

an

we

co

mm

it to

?

Who

els

e s

houl

d w

e in

volv

e?

Gov

ernm

ent

polic

y &

in

cent

ives

to

enco

urag

e IC

T in

vest

men

t

Priv

ate

sect

or

leve

rage

in

vest

men

t in

itia

tive

cre

ated

Mob

ilisa

tion

of

CSO

to

mar

ket

&

embr

ace

init

iati

ves

Des

ign

&

exec

utio

n of

ta

rget

ed p

roje

cts

Impr

oved

em

ploy

men

t op

port

unit

ies

for

yout

h

TARG

ET

Agen

cies

Fam

ilies

Med

ia

POETA YOUTH24

The Trust for the Americas

NAME ORGANIZATION AND TITLE

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

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 DepartmentofYouthAffairs,YouthOfficer

Karen Lisa Mitchell FreeTrade&ProcessingZone,OfficeManager

Gladwin Henry Antigua & Barbuda International Institute of Technology, President

Tamara Huggins GenderAffairs,ProgramOfficer

Nana Oye Hesse GenderAffairs,ProgramOfficer

Byron Maxam Community Development,, Welfare Aid

George Thomas MinistryofAgriculture,OAS/A&BGovt

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 YouthDevelopmentDivision,ChiefYouthDevelopmentOfficer

Mrs. Annie St. Luce Social Centre, Coordinator Adult Skills Training Program (ASTP)

Kelver Darroux NationalYouthCouncil,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

FINAL REPORT25

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’sCommunityCouncil,SocialDevelopmentOfficer

Thenford Grey Project Strong, Member of Advisory Council

ST LUCIA

Brian Louisy St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director

RufinaFrederick 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,YouthandSports,YouthOfficer

Selma St. Prix National Skills Development Centre, General Manager

Mr. Ezra Jn Baptiste Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Head Social Policy Unit

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Jerry George Digicel, Public Relations Manager – EC

St Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber Of Commerce, President

Ms. Shirla Francis Ministry of Telecommunications, Permanent Secretary

Carlos Williams MinistryofSocialDevelopment,YouthOfficer-YouthAffairsDe-partment

Colin Bacchus National Centre for Technological Innovation, Director

Lois Dublin Marion House, Coordinator - Youth Assistance Project

POETA YOUTH26

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

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.

FINAL REPORT27

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

to address 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 •

POETA YOUTH28

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.

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

FINAL REPORT29

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 •