(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Twenty-six year old Barbadian Donna Greene, is the new Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) programme. Making the announcement on Thursday, 13 December, 2007) at the closing of the CYA Strategic Evaluation and Planning workshop, Dr Heather Johnson Deputy Programme Manager, Community and Youth Development said, “as youth ambassador for the past two years, Donna is passionate about youth empowerment and is committed to the ideals and values of the programme. She also has the right blend of skills and experience that should allow her to function effectively as Dean.”

The third female to be appointed Dean, Donna is expected to provide leadership to and representation of the corps of over thirty ambassadors at both the regional and international levels; establish and maintain close communication with zone and regional constituents; engage and encourage participation in zone and regional activities and identify strategies to address the special needs of CYAs within the region.

She believes that her previous work in youth development, educational background and training have prepared her well to assume these responsibilities.

A Graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Donna holds a Masters of Science degree with distinction in International Development Management and a Bachelors of Science with honours in Sociology and Psychology. She has plans to pursue a doctoral thesis after her tenure as Dean.

Ms Greene has had a long and impressive stint as a youth worker having served, among other areas, as president of the Youth Advocacy Movement (the youth arm of the Barbados Family Planning Association) with responsibility for capacity building in youth and HIV /AIDS; and member of the National HIV AIDS Youth Commission in her country.

Currently serving as the Senior Cultural Policy Officer and National HIV/AIDS Coordinator in the Prime Minister’s office, Barbados, Ms Greene thinks she is strategically placed to make even more significant contribution to youth development.

During her one year tenure as Dean, Donna has set herself three major objectives: to advocate for career and self-development programmes for CYAS; to build capacity and awareness among CYAs of the socio-economic issues in the Caribbean and the local and national constituency in which they serve, and to increase the visibility and impact of the CYA programme within the Region.

Although for her the imminent challenge is “ongoing effective communication among and between CYAs,” Donna believes that she is equipped to tackle this challenge and plans to benchmark best practices within and without the Caribbean in ensuring that she acquits her responsibilities well.

“I am positive; I am driven and I believe I can accomplish anything I put my mind to...” remarks a self-assured Donna Greene.

Her predecessor, Mr John Darville from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, shares her confidence and hails Donna as an excellent choice with the requisite competencies and capabilities.

“The baton is well passed and is in good hands. I have no doubt that Donna will run her leg with her characteristic style and passion and with the distinction of which she is reputed.”

The CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme is a mechanism for leadership development and youth participation. Youth ambassadors, appointed annually, serve as focal points for deepening the regional integration and development process through advocacy and peer education initiatives.

Contact:  piu@caricom.org