The Centre for Health Economics (HEU) at UWI St Augustine, under the aegis of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), hosted a discussion titled “Youth as Catalysts for Economic and Social Change in the Caribbean” on February 13 at the FSS Lounge. The goal: to foster a solutions-oriented culture among young people, encouraging them to engage in meaningful dialogue, critically assess pressing issues, and advocate for change that benefits their communities.
HEU’s Youth Social Impact Platform (UWIYSIP) in collaboration with the Department of Economics and student organisations - the Economics Society, Management Society, Psychology Association, and the Finance and Investment Society-led the event. It was sponsored by Sagicor.
UWIYSIP provides a space where students can connect with experts and policymakers to share insights, propose solutions, and participate in regional advocacy. Mentors participating in the platform included professionals from the HEU and the Department of Economics.
In her remarks, Dr Acolla Lewis-Cameron, Dean of the FSS, commended the hosts and the student groups for their collaboration on this significant initiative. The faculty’s vision, she said, is to be socially engaged and solutions-oriented, and described UWIYSIP as “a clear demonstration of this commitment in action”.
Dr Althea La Foucade, Director of the HEU, described the event as evidence of the university’s commitment to fostering youth engagement in research, policymaking, and leadership development. In delivering his remarks Dr Daren Conrad, Head of the Department of Economics, emphasised the value of interdisciplinary youth partnerships, and Mr Jyasi Murray, spoke on behalf of the student groups, reinforcing the value of student-led initiatives that foster leadership and advocacy.
Dr Acolla Lewis-Cameron, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, giving her remarks.
As event chair, Mrs Haleema Ali-Sisbane, Economist at the HEU, highlighted the importance of creating structured pathways for young people to engage with decision-makers to help shape policies that impact them.
The student representatives at the UWIYSIP event engaged in discussions moderated by Ms Shauna Charles-Toussaint, Research Associate at the HEU, and gave presentations on topics such as technology and youth employment, economics and crime, diseases and climate change, and foreign exchange markets.
