In the latter half of 2024, youth advocates across the Caribbean participated in Hope for the Future – a collective call by youth for improved school food environments across the Caribbean.
This regional-youth led activity emerged from the “Caribbean Youth Voices in Health Advocacy Spaces – Healthy Food Policy Action”, the first of its kind youth meeting on Healthy Food Policies held in February 2024, aims to highlight youth support for school nutrition policies that regulate the sale and marketing of ultra processed products in and around schools. This policy should be supported by the implementation of Octagonal front of package warning labelling.
In addition to the country-specific activities, youth hosted an Instagram Live in commemoration of International Youth Day to urge governments to prioritize healthy school food environments.
The Hope for the Future started in The Bahamas and Montserrat in July 2024.
Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt, CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Montserrat, led the charge locally, gathering together key stakeholders such as health practitioners, youth leaders and civil society organization representatives to discuss the concerning rise in childhood obesity and NCDs in Montserrat as well as strategies to build a healthier environment, including a healthier school food environment.
The event was covered by various local media houses:
She noted,
The forum was well supported by key stakeholders to include youth, civil society and policy makers. The forum provided an opportunity to revive the conversation around school nutrition policies and bring greater awareness to the need for front of package labelling. Key interventions summarized epidemiology data about childhood obesity in Montserrat, and obstacles delaying policy implementation in the past. Visionaries endorsed the draft policy and pledged their support in seeing it go ahead. Details from a student focus group expressing challenges to seeking healthier food options in their school environments were also presented. Overall; attendees benefited from this youth led activity with local media coverage ensuring the message from this was circulated via news broadcasts and articles.
Click/tap to listen to listen to Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt on ZJB Radio Montserrat
Healthy Caribbean Youth members and members of the Healthy Bahamas Coalition led an engaging panel discussion in Rawson square in close proximity, symbolically, to the National Parliament Building. A panel of predominantly youth leaders shared the current challenges they face in navigating their school food environment and their vision for an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice. The event was covered by Eyewitness News and ZNS News.
Kaj Archer
Kaj Archer, who guided the team, noted that, “The Hope for the Future event provided a platform for the youth of The Bahamas to stand up and speak out about their fundamental right to healthy foods in school environments.
The youth panelists articulated their vision for the future, emphasizing accessible and affordable healthy food options, regulation of ultra-processed foods, and educational initiatives to foster healthy relationships with food among school-aged children. This event underscored the importance of involving youth in policy discussions that directly impact their development.”
On September 25 2024, youth from across the Caribbean will host similar events calling our regional leaders to lead, putting youth first. Ahead of this, youth took over social media on August 12 – International Youth Day to urge governments to prioritize healthy school food environments. On August 14th, key youth advocates and stakeholders from across the Caribbean hosted an Instagram Live discussing the topic further.
All children in the Caribbean deserve to learn and grow in healthy school environments that are not inundated with ultraprocessed products. It has been 17 years since the region’s leaders unified their vision for a healthier Caribbean through the Port of Spain Declaration. Now, it is time for them to revisit previous commitments, including healthier school food environments, #actonfacts and walk the talk for better nutrition in schools. They have the support of the region’s youth.
Danielle Walwyn
Advocacy Officer, HCC and Lead, Healthy Caribbean Youth (youth arm of the HCC)
On Saturday 21st September the Antiguan and Barbudan members of HCY partnered with HCC’s local Civil Society Organization (CSOs) members the Antigua and Barbuda Diabetes Association (ABDA) and Heart and Stroke Foundation, Antigua and Barbuda (HSFAB) to engage with students and parents/guardians on the topic of healthy school environments. The activity took place during the Rotary Club Antigua Sundown’s annual Paediatric Village at the Antigua Girls’ High School; it opened with an appearance by the HSFAB’s mascot Arter who has been instrumental in driving vibrant health-promoting conversations about healthy behaviors in schools across Antigua and Barbuda. Arter’s appearance was followed by a lively discussion on the importance of healthy eating and the role of policy in supporting healthy school environments.
On Wednesday July 3rd, the Healthy Bahamas Coalition, Healthy Lifestyles Team (HALT) and Bahamian members of Healthy Caribbean Youth, led by Kaj Archer, hosted Hope for the Future. The Hope for the Future panel discussion took place at Rawson Square and featured panelists Dr. Kristine Parker-Curling, (Healthy Lifestyles Team, HALT), Ms. Camelta Barnes, Head of Nutrition Unit, Ministry of Health and Wellness and 3 high school students Madison Hepburn, Dellon Evans and Zian Rolle. HCY Member Karissa Moss moderated the panel discussion which delved into the current status of food environments in The Bahamas including the pervasive marketing of ultra-processed products and desire for free drinking water water in all schools, and more broadly, the policy, community and family-level interventions that should be considered to promote and enable healthier diets. The discussion ended with high-school students sharing their Hope for the Future. Here are snippets of their visions below:
As students, it is already difficult trying to balance the aspects of our transitional years but should this difficulty be exacerbated by a health crisis that could’ve very well been prevented ? I think not. We must task school vendors to consider and implement lunch and breakfast alternatives for students that are not just healthy but affordable and appetizing.
Dellon Evans
Today, when going to school, students are often served meals that struggle to meet daily nutritional needs and develop unhealthy eating habits as a result. Students deserve more fruits, vegetables, and well-balanced meal options….Ultimately, the decision to foster a healthier environment for students is up to us, and if we don’t attempt to make a change, children will continue to grow and develop diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. We can’t ignore the reality that unhealthy children make unhealthy adults, and unhealthy adults will make an unhealthy nation.
Zian Rolle
Strengthening school nutrition policies isn’t just about healthier children. It’s about creating a brighter future for everyone. By regulating the sale and marketing of ultra-processed products, we can build an environment where every child has the chance to grow up healthy, strong, and ready to succeed. Let’s commit to making this vision a reality, for the health of our nation, is the wealth of our nation.
Madison Hepburn
Event attendees included members of the media, teachers, students as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training, Rotary Club, and other civil society organizations.
Leading up to the event Gabrielle Edwards, Karissa Moss and Ashanta Ramsey promoted Hope for the Future and the broader call for Healthy School Food Environments on the Bahamas at Sunrise Morning Show.
Media:
- https://fb.watch/tbZqLpkaHJ/
- Eyewitness News Bahamas: https://ewnews.com/youth-advocate-for-better-health-policies-in-schools
On Wednesday, September 25th, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition hosted the Hope for the Future Activity at the Blackman and Gollop Primary School. This event was led by Michron Robinson, Youth Advocacy Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados. The activity featured interventions from an array of visionaries who shared the importance of healthy school food environments and fostering healthy behaviors at an early age. Visionaries included student and youth speakers, including those with lived experiences, medical students and canteen operators. The event also provided a platform for Honorable David Ishamel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Dr. Ramona Broadshaw, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Principal of the Milton Lynch Boys School Tyrone Marshall and Youth Subcommittee Leader and Student Doctor Ddjata Massiah, who reflected on their commitments made to supporting healthy school food environments and actions to fully implement the School Nutrition Policy.
Media:
- https://epaper.barbadostoday.bb/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=0cc442a8-0a9b-4901-9749-84817726ee10&share=true
- https://epaper.barbadostoday.bb/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=452499d7-7d7c-4969-8202-920e1ca41d4f&share=true
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAW1eTNtVG_/?igsh=dHQ3Z2ZxdHluOTcw
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAW53oISbGQ/?igsh=MWsydjBkYzMxZ2I4YQ%3D%3D
On Wednesday September 25th, the Dominica Cancer Society and the Dominica Diabetes Association hosted the Hope for the Future Activity at the Convent High School in Roseau, Dominica. Sannie Abraham, Dominica Cancer Society Youth Arm Founder and Healthy Caribbean Youth Member, spearheaded the activity. Despite the rainy weather, students engaged in lively discussions with Mrs. Coraley Thomas, Nutritionist within the Ministry of Education and climate change youth advocate Ferdison Valmond on the importance of healthy eating for both human and planetary health. Encouragingly, the chief Nutritionist highlighted her desire for the School Nutrition Policy draft to be revisited.
Media:
On Thursday September 26, the Grenada National Chronic Non Communicable Disease Commission (NCNCDC) was joined by the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC) and SGU Public Health Student Association (PHSA) to lead their Hope for the future Activity at the Westmorland Junior School. The activity created space for a hearty discussion on Healthy School Environments, guided by a presentation from the GFNC and followed by a discussion with the students centering on their reflections and recommendations for healthier school environments. The session concluded with the students agreeing to 3 initiatives to foster a healthier school food environment. The team looks forward to doing follow up visits across Grenada and Carriacou in the new year.
On Wednesday September 25th, the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network led the Hope for the future Activity at the Wolmer’s Girls’ School, in collaboration with Fi We Children, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica and UNICEF Jamaica. The event, moderated by Shemar Wedderburn, featured key interventions from partners and amplified student perspectives on the importance of the pending School Nutrition Policy. It also served as a launch of the Open Letter to the Ministry of Education and Youth which garnered over 200 youth signatures of support to urgently finalize the national school nutrition policy.
Media:
On July 5th 2024, Dr. Tiffannie Skerrit, youth advocate and CARICOM Youth Ambassador held Hope for the Future at the Montserrat Public Library. She successfully brought together multiple stakeholders to discuss nutrition, school food environments and student health. Through the interventions from visionaries – Honorable Premier St Luke Le Blanc (National Youth Parliament), Miss Khayla West (National Youth Parliament), Dr. Sylvia Paz (Consultant Pediatrician – Ministry of Health), Manuelva Yatlor Benjamin (Nutritionist), Vanessa Mark (President, Rotaract Club of Montserrat) and Mr. Trevor Howe (Montserrat Diabetes Association) – the audience members were treated to diverse perspectives on the importance of early intervention to address rising NCDs, which includes fostering healthy behaviors in schools. Tiffannie also used the opportunity to share her own survey done with students in Montserrat to explore existing health behaviors and students’ reception to school health nutrition policies.
Media:
In support of the Hope for the Future activity, Yasmine Polius, with support from the St. Lucia Diabetes and Hypertension Association and St. Lucia Cancer Society released a series of videos featuring key stakeholders including — Dr. Kedhma Dorh, President of the St. Lucia Diabetes and Hypertension Association and Chair of the NCD Commission, Ms. Lisa Hunt, Chief Nutritionist, Ministry of Health, Mr. Perseus Prospere, Former Vice President of Diabetes for Youth and student Phoeve d’Auverne – to sensitize the public to the importance of Healthy Diets and making them more accessible via Farm-to-Table/School interventions and the implementation of School Nutrition Policies and broader, complimentary suite of evidence-based healthy food policies.
Media:
- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/fbqwgSMQSJGbtKKL/?
- https://thevoiceslu.com/2024/09/ultra-processed-foods-killing-nations-youth-says-local-doctor/
On September 28th 2024, the Trinidad and Tobago NCD Alliance, the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences, the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Regional Youth Network and Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago, spearheaded by Healthy Caribbean Youth Member, Simone Bishop-Matthews led Hope for the Future – Youth Health Advocacy Forum at the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago’s Head Office. The event aimed to build awareness of the risk factors and burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in T&T, promote dialogue around healthy food environments in schools, gain support for the implementation of a national school nutrition policy and gather perspectives on the school food environments and youth-informed solutions from current students/youth. Ms. Michele Ash – Chief Nutritionist and Head of the Nutrition and Metabolism Division, Ministry of Health, T&T, Ms. Kezia Philip – Health Promotion Specialist and Registered Dietitian. Ms. Abigail Caleb – Senior Technical Officer, Food Security and Nutrition, CARPHA delivered engaging presentations and sparked insights from youth attendees who shared their current food environment experiences and also their solutions to strengthen school food environments.
The speakers were one of the highlights of the event, meaningfully engaging with the students/youth and fostering a sense of individual responsibility in living healthier lives. Attendees expressed their appreciation for the forum in providing insight into addressing NCDs nationally from a policy and/or technical perspective and they were optimistic in continuing to amplify their right to health, including access to better and nutritious foods within their schools or communities. Notably, some attendees even expressed their interest in pursuing a career in the public health field.