Youth Development in the Caribbean

Small States |ForumSmall States |Forum

IBRD/IMFIBRD/IMF

Annual MeetingsAnnual Meetings

Dubai 2003Dubai 2003

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Study Objectives

Identify the causes (risk and protective factors) behind various youth behaviors and development.

Measure the cost of negative youth behaviors to the individual and to society

Explore key intervention points for youth development.

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Scope and Data

Data Quantitative

Household surveys CARICOM country survey of adolescent

students.

Qualitative: St. Lucia and Dominican Republic focus

groupsConsultations: Jamaica, Barbados,

Dominican Republic

MAIN FINDINGSMAIN FINDINGS

Although the majority of Although the majority of young people make the young people make the transition to adulthood transition to adulthood smoothly..... A growing smoothly..... A growing

minority do not. minority do not.

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Growing numbers of young people are “at

risk”

Regional trends:Youth unemployment: 33% Jamaica, 30% DRHighest incidence of AIDS/HIV outside of

Africa17% physically abused 10-17% of children begin sexual activity

before age 10Incidence of rage is high: 40%20% of boys carry firearms to school and

involved in gangsWidespread social acceptance of alcohol and

marijuana use

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Youth Development is National Development

Some Examples of “lost” GDP due to youth behaviors: Teen Pregnancy: each cohort of adolescent mothers

cost the Dominican Republic US$7 million in foregone use of resources

School dropout: a female school leaver in St. Lucia earns (and contributes to GDP) US$ 525,000 less over her lifetime than if she finished secondary school

Crime: in Jamaica, tourist receipts increase 4% with 1% reduction in youth crime

AIDS: annual GDP would be up to 0.37% higher if no youth contracted HIV

Unemployment: If youth unemployment rates were equal to those in the US, GDP would be 3.72% higher in Jamaica (regional high) and 0.72% higher in Barbados (regional low)

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Youth Respond to Their Environment

Primary level factors Family Schools Poverty and Inequality Gender and the Family

Secondary level factors Microenvironment: Peers, role models and

social networks, communities and neighbourhoods

Macroenvironment: Health care system, law enforcement, judiciary, media

MOVING MOVING FORWARD FORWARD

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The challenges

Scarce information: Youth programs are plentiful but little is known about their effectiveness. How to make policy & investments when information about effective policy is scarce?

Institutional challenges: Youth is a crosscutting issue At-risk youth are unattached to formal

institutions Youth lack an organized and vocal

constituency

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Entry Points for Action –some ideas

Use the Education System to address youth issues as well as academic needs

Public Health Care System that works with the realities of youth behavior and prioritizes confidentiality

Parental and Mentoring programs/activities and incentives to participate

Reform and Strengthen Legal, Judicial and Policing Systems to Create a Safe and Positive Environment

Use the Media and Social Marketing to change norms and values of youth and of adults with respect to youth

Create economic incentives for productive youthYouth-policymaker partnerships in decision-making

fora

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Youth are not the problem....they are the product of their environments

“The drug dons ( traffickers) promote themselves to the youth. We have to promote ourselves, our programs, our community and our caring if we are to get the youth’s attention.”