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Youth Summit Challenges Virgin Gorda Youth Virgin Gorda youth started the New Year with a vision and a plan. From January 2-7 forty youth participated in the Virgin Gorda Youth Leadership Initiative’s Youth Summit for Sustainable Development. The Youth Summit addressed three components of sustainable development: personal, professional and community/global environmental. The three-day summit was followed by three days of action in the community. VGYLI college youth attending Baylor, Purdue and Texas Christian University served as facilitators with the Summit’s youth faculty from the University of California Berkeley and University of Puerto Rico and youth delegates from Bates College, Dominican University of California and University of Massachusetts Urban Scholars. The Stone Soup Leadership Institute organized the Youth Summit and has provided technical assistance and training to VGYLI since 2006. The Institute’s mission is to train young and emerging leaders to build a better world. Emily Fletcher, Food & Beverage Manager for The Mineshaft Café spoke about managing our personal energy so we can realize our dreams. “Perseverance is the key to success,” she said sharing a story of her friend whose boat sunk and spent the next year rebuilding his business. Ms. Fletcher served as faculty for the Institute’s Youth Summit with the 2006 Vieques Youth Leadership Initiative. Youth leaders spoke of the importance of having a positive attitude – using the Barack Obama message: “Yes We Can” and Mahatma Gandhi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Lyndon Andrews, a pre-dental student who graduates in 2009 and begins dental school in 2010, strives for A’s. While at Bregado Flax High School, he set his goal to become valedictorian. This helped him get college scholarships. Lyndon’s words of wisdom for those preparing to attend college: “Coffee is your best friend,” but he cautioned, “Don’t pull “all-nighters” or your brain turns to mush. Trust me!” Arianna Caplan presented a power point presentation on Effective Communications -- verbal and written. “Smile, even when you’re on the phone,” she explained. She gave helpful tips for active listening and emailing: “Don’t forget to use your spell check!” To keep VGYLI youth connected after the Youth Summit, she customized a social networking tool on Facebook. VG youth joined small groups to review their professional goals and develop priorities. Future lawyer Jesse Boswell from Martha’s Vineyard and Boston joined Virgin Gorda youth aspiring to be lawyers: Jakeila Harrigan, Maxine Fergus, Mickesha Delphesh, Jeseny Tesheira, and future judge Petra Joseph. The Youth Summit featured prestigious guest speakers on sustainable development like Evergreen Solar’s Brown Williams presentation on alternative energy. “Think in terawatts,” he explained. “They are the answer!” Tania Cruz inspired everyone with her presentation on the Vieques Youth Leadership Initiative’s 2020 Report for Sustainable Development. Lenette Lewis and Angela Burnett Penn gifted Summit delegates with a Marine Awareness Publications and calendar. They invited VGYLI to help create a BVI chapter of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network. VGYLI youth Jasseim Maynard presented a report on the Sandwatch Project at Savannah Bay with Robinson O’Neal students featured in the recent UNESCO publication Education for Sustainable Development Teachers Guide for the Caribbean. Belinda Kloppers, Dive BVI instructor described the next day’s environmental adventure to explore sea turtles at Savannah Bay. Bitter End Yacht Club Water Sports led a snorkeling adventure to the Wreck of the Rhone. Youth received commemorative T-shirts honoring sea turtles “the canary in the coal mine of the ocean world” and thanking Youth Summit sponsors. VGYLI Founder Adrianna Soverall challenged youth to think, “Where do you want VGYLI to be in 1 to 5 years?” VGYLI’s 2007-2008 Project Coordinator Feliza Fenty brainstormed possible community service projects. 16 year-old Petra Joseph, “Young people in Virgin Gorda don’t know enough about our own history. As we work towards their future, we want to know more about our roots. We also want to honor Virgin Gorda seniors.” VGYLI’s 2009 Cultural Heritage Project will interview seniors with Kyle Harrigan, BVI Tourist Board serving as project coordinator. Latoya George is leading VGYLI’s Eco-tourism Entrepreneurship Project. A Youth Forum was held at H.Lavity Stout Community College where youth delegates presented their declaration to representatives from BVI Conservation & Fisheries and sponsor Roadtown Wholesale: The Youth Summit culminated with a community service project. Led by Lyndon Andrews, the youth Virgin Gorda youth are grateful to all their generous sponsors who made this Youth Summit possible: BVI Ministry of Education & Culture, A Dream Come True Villa, Bitter End Yacht Club, Caribbean Wings, Dive BVI, Hertz Car Rentals, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, jetBlue, Mango Bay Resorts, Roadtown Wholesale, Saba Rock, Scotiabank, The Mineshaft Café, The Bath & Turtle, Sanctuary of Hope Church, Cape Air, Air Sunshine, North Sound Express, Trinity Financial Services Inc., Bucks Marketplace, Rosy’s, BVI Conservation and Fisheries Department, Dominican University of California’s Institute for Leadership Studies, and University of Massachusetts of Boston’s Urban Scholars Program. |