This weekend, the SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit was held at the University of the West Indies campus in the beautiful island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. The summit brought together 80 young people from the Caribbean, Pacific, and AIS regions over the course of three days to brainstorm solutions.
On Saturday, the group gathered in a large university hall to write down their personal commitments to taking action against the climate crisis. One of the commitments included a cardboard “brick” with a plastic bottle inside, symbolizing the need for plastic-free and sustainable islands.
The summit was organized by Ashley Lashley, a lifelong activist and founder of the Ashley Lashley Foundation. She partnered with UNICEF and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to bring the event to life.
The summit focused on four themes related to the SIDS4 conference: resilient recovery, environmental integrity and sustainability, a secure future, and safe and prosperous societies. Other organizations, such as UNFPA, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the governments of Malta and Australia, also supported the summit.
During the summit, the youth delegates had the opportunity to witness the impacts of climate change on the shores and hills of Antigua. They also participated in master classes on advocacy, communication, movement building, and policy negotiation. The highlight of the summit was the building of a “wall of commitment” and the development of action projects that will last for ten years in their respective regions.
Ms. Lashley hopes that these projects will receive technical and financial assistance to make a real impact. She emphasized the power of youth voices in creating change for a better future.
Noah Herlaar-Hassan, a 17-year-old from Bonaire, spoke about the importance of recognizing the role that all nations, including those not directly affected by climate change, play in creating a better future. Adelaide Nafoi, a 25-year-old from Samoa, highlighted the power of youth voices in shaping the future of their nations and the world. Renee Smith, a 28-year-old from Grenada, shared her commitment to ocean protection and called for awareness and responsible behavior among youth and communities.
After the SIDS4 conference, Ms. Lashley plans to continue the momentum by forming a youth action taskforce to monitor and support the commitments and action projects developed during the summit. She believes that as young people, they have a responsibility to take action for future generations.