Youth Development in the Caribbean Small States |Forum IBRD/IMF Annual Meetings Dubai 2003

2 Study Objectives z Identify the causes (risk and protective factors) behind various youth behaviors and development. z Measure the cost of negative youth behaviors to the individual and to society z Explore key intervention points for youth development.

3 Scope and Data zData yQuantitative xHousehold surveys x CARICOM country survey of adolescent students. yQualitative: xSt. Lucia and Dominican Republic focus groups xConsultations: Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic

MAIN FINDINGS Although the majority of young people make the transition to adulthood smoothly..... A growing minority do not.

5 Growing numbers of young people are “at risk” Regional trends: z Youth unemployment: 33% Jamaica, 30% DR z Highest incidence of AIDS/HIV outside of Africa z 17% physically abused z 10-17% of children begin sexual activity before age 10 z Incidence of rage is high: 40% z 20% of boys carry firearms to school and involved in gangs z Widespread social acceptance of alcohol and marijuana use

6 Youth Development is National Development Some Examples of “lost” GDP due to youth behaviors: z Teen Pregnancy: each cohort of adolescent mothers cost the Dominican Republic US$7 million in foregone use of resources z School dropout: a female school leaver in St. Lucia earns (and contributes to GDP) US$ 525,000 less over her lifetime than if she finished secondary school z Crime: in Jamaica, tourist receipts increase 4% with 1% reduction in youth crime z AIDS: annual GDP would be up to 0.37% higher if no youth contracted HIV z 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)

7 Youth Respond to Their Environment z Primary level factors y Family y Schools y Poverty and Inequality y Gender and the Family z Secondary level factors y Microenvironment: Peers, role models and social networks, communities and neighbourhoods y Macroenvironment: Health care system, law enforcement, judiciary, media

MOVING FORWARD

9 The challenges z 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? z Institutional challenges: y Youth is a crosscutting issue y At-risk youth are unattached to formal institutions y Youth lack an organized and vocal constituency

10 Entry Points for Action – some ideas z Use the Education System to address youth issues as well as academic needs z Public Health Care System that works with the realities of youth behavior and prioritizes confidentiality z Parental and Mentoring programs/activities and incentives to participate z Reform and Strengthen Legal, Judicial and Policing Systems to Create a Safe and Positive Environment z Use the Media and Social Marketing to change norms and values of youth and of adults with respect to youth z Create economic incentives for productive youth z Youth-policymaker partnerships in decision-making fora

11 Youth are not the problem....they are the product of their environments z“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.”