Across the Caribbean, young people are not waiting for the future to lead change. They are documenting community experiences, generating research, advocating for healthier communities, mobilising their peers and helping to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
On 10 September 2026, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY), in partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), brought together young leaders, youth allies and institutional partners from across the region for a powerful conversation celebrating youth leadership transforming health and health education across the Caribbean.
Throughout the webinar, we heard inspiring examples of young people leading research, advocacy and community action, while challenging us to think more deeply about what is needed to move from simply including young people to ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to influence decisions and drive change.
We also spotlighted the Caribbean Youth Voices – Healthy Caribbean Futures initiative, supported by the Commonwealth Foundation, and shared the journey of young people who helped co-create the Caribbean Youth Voices Handbook — a practical resource designed by and for young people to support their meaningful engagement in health decision-making.
Importantly, the evening created space to explore what becomes possible when youth leadership is intentionally supported. Young leaders and institutional partners reflected on the partnerships, resources, opportunities and enabling environments needed for young people to move from participation to meaningful influence and action.
Creativity was also at the heart of the conversation as we celebrated the winners of Caribbean Youth Voices: Art for Action. Through their submissions, young Caribbean creatives explored what “Nothing For Us Without Us” means to them — sharing powerful perspectives on youth leadership, representation, meaningful participation and their visions for a healthier Caribbean.
One message was clear throughout the evening: youth leadership is not a future aspiration. It is already happening.
Our collective responsibility is to recognise it, invest in it and create the conditions for it to thrive.
A heartfelt thank you to every young person, speaker, partner, artist, judge and participant who contributed to this important conversation. We look forward to continuing to build a Caribbean where young people are not only invited into the room, but are supported to shape what happens there.
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Webinar Participants and Presenters
Moderators:
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Mr. Alex Johnson
Clinical Dietitian, Health Advocate and Healthy Caribbean Youth, Jamaica
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Ms. Latifah Holder
Public Health Specialist and Healthy Caribbean Youth, Trinidad and Tobago
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Opening Remarks:
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Dr. Karen Sealey
Board Member, Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Chair, Trinidad and Tobago NCD Alliance and Member of the Board of Trustees, World Obesity Federation
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Dr. Gloria Giraldo
Advisor, NCDs and Mental Health, Subregional Program Coordination for the Caribbean, PAHO
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Presenters:
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Ms. Kaj Archer
Team Lead, Healthy Bahamas Coalition, Ministry of Health and Wellness, The Bahamas
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Ms. Danielle Walwyn
Advocacy Officer and Lead, Healthy Caribbean Youth, Healthy Caribbean Coalition
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Professor Euridice Martinez
Researcher, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo
Brasil
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Panelists:
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Ms. Sashana Small
Staff Reporter – Jamaica Gleaner
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Dr. Michele Lashley
Paediatrician, UWI/ Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados
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Ms. Janet Simon
Educator, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Healthy Caribbean Youth, Antigua and Barbuda
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Ms. Keeley Holder
Agri-Food Systems Specialist, Barbados
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