GINA HARGITAY, Miss Jamaica World and Miss World Caribbean 2013, Brand Ambassador, IGNITE CARIBBEAN Among Youth Promoters and Youth Leaders to explore “The Future of Agriculture” on Thursday, November 19th, at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC.
The Institute of Caribbean Studies will amplify the attention of youth in agriculture by launching its IGNITE CARIBBEAN initiative intended to provide a forum for youth leadership development, with the first IGNITE CARIBBEAN: FARM THE FUTURE – A Youth Forum on the Future of Agriculture.
The IGNITE CARIBBEAN: FARM THE FUTURE Youth Forum is a main attraction of INVEST CARIBBEAN 2015, the 17th Annual Investment in the Caribbean Forum which brings together academics, business leaders, NGOs,and policymakers to exchange information on challenges and opportunities impacting the prospects for sustainable investing in agribusiness in the Caribbean. This year’s two day forum places focus on “Leveraging Natural Resources Capital: Opportunities and Challenges in Optimizing the Value Chain of the Agriculture and Extraction Industries.”
Gina Hargitay, who has been named Brand Ambassador for the Ignite Caribbean initiative will bring her message on Youth Solidarity for Development. Gina also serves as the UNAIDS Youth Envoy for Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Among the youth promoters expected to participate are: Rachel Boyce, Inter-American Development Bank; Ashley Valle, Pan-American Development Foundation; and Ana Maria Torres. Young Americas Business Trust. Representing the Caribbean, will be among others: Tracy James from the Agribusiness Club of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, through a partnership with IICA. Representing the US will be among others: Samora Christian, from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, through a partnership with Rebuild Dominica.
IGNITE CARIBBEAN is an initiative designed by ICS to bring youth voices to the fore, that may pose possible solutions for issues, that may be taken on board by organizations working with youth such as the IDB, IICA and USAID. The initiative hopes to engage youth leaders in a series of forums about the Caribbean in 2030. Output from the sessions will be included in the publication series Caribbean Futures 2030:Let All Ideas Contend.
IGNITE CARIBBEAN: FARM THE FUTURE will be held on the Thursday November 19th 2015 at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC. Students and recent graduates under the age of 35 are invited to participate. Registration is free but is required by Wednesday, November 18th. A Government issued ID is required to enter the Building.
