Barbadian youth organisations have been challenged to recognise their unique power in driving social change and to look beyond mere titles to understand the true weight of leadership.
The charge came during a capacity-building workshop hosted by the Division of Youth Affairs on Saturday aimed at strengthening the impact of youth-led entities within the national development ecosystem.
Addressing the young leaders at the Radisson Aquatica, Senator Roshanna Trim said while the state bears significant responsibility for youth development, independent youth entities hold an equally vital role that cannot be overlooked.
“The government, the ministry, we all have a responsibility to ensure that young people are able to develop,” Senator Trim acknowledged. “However, other entities also have responsibilities… Every community deserves the vibrancy, the creativity, and the innovation of young people.”
Senator Trim pointed to the unique peer-to-peer connection that young leaders possess, noting that “relatability” is an asset older generations simply cannot replicate.
“Young people tend to listen to young people,” she observed, explaining that younger demographics often share a sense of understanding based on navigating the same modern lifestyle and challenges.
However, she noted that the landscape shifts rapidly, adding: “At my age, and I’m 31, when I talk to persons who are 14 and 16… the terminology is different, like how they engage with each other is different.”
Meantime, community development executive Sophia Greaves-Broome urged young leaders to embrace sacrifice and strategic adaptability to achieve long-term organisational sustainability.
The chief executive officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop shared insights from her 30-year career leading civil society initiatives and challenged attendees to understand the harsh realities of community work.
Greaves-Broome, who has managed multi-sectoral programmes, stressed that building a lasting organisation requires deep personal sacrifice and unwavering belief in leadership.
“The first thing with organisational sustainability is you must share your vision and it must be solid,” she stated. “It must be an inclusive vision where people can say, ‘I can align to that, I can respect that, I can work with that, I can give up my time for that.’”
Addressing the modern economic landscape, she noted that the traditional donor environment has shifted into a highly competitive space focused heavily on return on investment. To survive, she advised organisations to adopt social enterprise models and abandon rigid traditional structures.
“This current environment is extremely competitive,” Greaves-Broome warned. “Leaders have to continue to critically analyse themselves. You have to be your worst critic. You have to continuously unpack your organisation, deconstruct it, reconstruct it… to make sure that there’s a continuous focus on modernising your organisation and maintaining relevance.”
She also urged the next generation of leaders to commit to continuous personal learning and to maintain political neutrality, reminding them that true community transformation is never an overnight achievement.
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