Students from across the Caribbean will have the opportunity to take part in the inaugural CARIFESTA XV Student Jamboree, a first-of-its-kind cultural youth camp held in Barbados this August and designed to bring together 5th and 6th Form students in a week-long celebration of Caribbean identity, creativity, and connection.
And Prime Minister Mia Mottley has urged Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Education and Youth to deepen regional integration and invest in youth development by sending secondary school students to Barbados for this landmark event set for August 22–31, 2025.
“This CARIFESTA XV Student Jamboree is about building bridges between young people, between our countries, and between ideas. We want our youth not only to witness the best of Caribbean culture, but to imagine the best of its future together,” Prime Minister Mottley said.
The CARIFESTA Student Jamboree will be coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office in Barbados, through a Special Committee chaired by Dr Nigel Taylor and will offer safe accommodation at selected schools in the capital city.
Campers will be immersed in CARIFESTA’s ten-day celebration, with special access to cultural events island-wide and full participation in the Youth Village, a high-impact hub of innovation, wellness, performance and dialogue designed specifically for young leaders.
“We’re inviting the region’s youth to meet each other at the crossroads of culture and future-readiness. From heritage to high-tech, this is a life-changing opportunity to celebrate and shape Caribbean identity,” said Dr Taylor.
Meanwhile, Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman underscored the importance of the CARIFESTA Student Jamboree as a transformative platform.
“This is more than a celebration or an outing; it is a classroom without walls. Our students will spectate and participate in cultural expressions that confront the big issues of our time for which our prime minister continues to advocate,” Minister Blackman said.
“My hope is that our young people will also see the climate crisis, educational transformation, and critical thinking through the lens of Caribbean creativity. That is the power of this experience,” he added.
All logistical arrangements, including housing, security, transport, meals, programming, and wellness, are being handled by the host country. Dr Taylor has given the assurance that all security measures will be in place as part of the planning to ensure that visiting students and chaperones enjoy a safe, enriching and unforgettable festival experience.
“This first-ever CARIFESTA Student Jamboree is not only a cultural exchange, it is a call to action. It is a declaration that the Caribbean’s future is already here, and it is bright, bold, and youth-led, said Josanne Leonard, communications director for CARIFESTA XV.
Leonard described the initiative as a defining moment for cultural leadership in the region. “This invitation from Prime Minister Mottley is visionary. It signals to the region and the world that Caribbean leadership can be bold, human-centred, and future-focused. She is saying to our youth: You matter, your ideas matter, and you belong at the heart of shaping who we are and who we’re becoming.”
All interested principals and parents are advised to contact their local ministries of education for further information on how to participate. Deadline for submission is August 15, 2025. (PR)
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