Young Barbadians have been urged to step forward and support this year’s National Summer Camps programme, as youth and culture minister Senator Shane Archer expressed concern that volunteerism across the island is waning and in need of revival.
As the Division of Youth Affairs launched the National Summer Camps 2026 programme at its Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall office on Tuesday, Senator Archer made a direct appeal to tertiary students to answer the call for volunteers as the summer camps seek additional support.
He particularly encouraged students benefiting from state-funded education to give back to their communities through service.
“I wanted to use the opportunity to really make a call to the students in the tertiary education system. The give-back hours… we really need the volunteers to really step forward and to give back,”
Noting that he, too, had benefited from public higher education, the minister urged students across the island’s tertiary institutions to become involved.
“The government has put a lot into our education because I, too, was a beneficiary of having this government pay for my tertiary education, and I really want to urge those, whether it’s at BCC, UWI, SJPI… whoever. I really want to urge our young Barbadians to really step forward and to help.”
Senator Archer expressed concern that fewer people are volunteering and said rebuilding that culture of service should become a national priority, particularly as Barbados celebrates its 60th year of Independence and fifth anniversary as a republic.
“Voluntarism in this country is at an all-time low, and we really need to work together to go back to the community spirit and the spirit that is really Barbadian.”
The minister also used the occasion to encourage greater corporate involvement in youth development initiatives, expressing hope that more businesses would partner with the National Summer Camps programme in the future.
He would like to see sponsors assist with providing camp materials, including branded shirts for participants and volunteers, he said.
“I hope that next year we can have a sponsor who will put their name on the shirts. This is also a call to those in the private sector to really invest into what it is that we’re doing.”
He acknowledged the support already being provided by companies including Republic Bank and CIBC, adding that increased private backing would help expand the programme and provide more resources.
(SB)
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