Download Word - Unicef

MEDIA RELEASE
UK J8 delegates given Caribbean lessons in climate change, HIV/AIDS
BARBADOS. 29 June 2009. When youth leaders from across the globe get an opportunity to give leaders of
the word’s most powerful nations their perspective on burning
issues next month, the concerns of the Eastern Caribbean are
expected to feature in those discussions.
United Kingdom Junior 8 delegates Harry Phinda, Birzi Saleh,
Sara Saleh and Mallika Myers were recently on a mission to
Barbados to learn first hand how climate change and HIV and
AIDS are impacting on young people in the Caribbean.
Information gathered during those discussions is expected to
form part of their presentations at the upcoming J8 summit in
Rome.
The four teenagers from south London engaged Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson in a discussion on
the issues before meeting with a range of school children and adolescents to find out how climate change and
HIV and AIDS are impacting on children in the small island developing state.
They also got an opportunity to explore how young people are being part of the solution to those problems.
Learning Experience
“It was an eye opener,” said Harry, adding that whether viewing coastal erosion on the west coast of Barbados
or discussing issues of abstinence and condom use with youth, they were able to get a feel for the concerns
from the perspective of a small island developing state.
During their meeting with Prime Minister Thompson, the J8 delegates quizzed him on efforts his government
was taking to minimize the impact of HIV and AIDS on youth, whether the rights of children were being met in
accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and what measure the country is taking to address
climate change.
“Do you think that the messages about prevention are getting through to young people in Barbados? What
challenges do you think remain,” Sarah asked the Prime Minister. To this the Barbadian leader gave a personal
insight into the type of sexual education his teenaged daughters were being exposed to in school and what
impact it was having on them.
The UK youth said they particularly valued the opportunity to interact with Je-Meila Maloney, an 18-year-old
Barbadian secondary school student who represented the Latin America and the Caribbean region at last year’s
J8 meeting in Japan. Je-Meila, along with fellow Barbadian teenagers Christa Soleyn and Dwayne Hackett,
accompanied the young people on their visits.
United Nations Children’s Fund
Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
1st Floor United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church, Barbados
P. O. Box 1232, Bridgetown, Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
E-Mail [email protected]
www.unicef.org/barbados
MEDIA RELEASE
Full agenda
The agenda included an engagement on HIV and AIDS with students at The Lodge School, an environmental
school project organized by the University of the West Indies and a visit to sea to explore both healthy and
dying coral reef the Folkestone Marine Park on the west coast.
Tom Olsen, UNICEF Representative to Barbados and the Eastern
Caribbean said it was commendable that the UK youth came to
place the issues confronting small island developing states on the
agenda of the J8 and G8 summit.
“Last year we were admirably represented by Je-Meila and this
year we expect these four awesome young people from the UK to
draw on what they were exposed to during their brief visit to keep
the concerns of this region alive. HIV and AIDS and climate
change and real concerns for children growing up here and it is important that they be focused on at all levels,”
Olsen added.
The JG summit, which will be held parallel to the G8 Leaders Summit, will bring together 32 young people
aged 14 to 17. They will be from the G8 countries _ Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian
Federation, the UK and the United States – along with representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Mexico
and South Africa.
__________________________________________________________________________________
For More Information please contact:
Tom Olsen, Representative, UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Tel. 246 467 6151
Patrick Knight, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Tel. 246
4676162
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early
childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF
supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and
the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary
contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Learn more at www.unicef.org/barbados
United Nations Children’s Fund
Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
1st Floor United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church, Barbados
P. O. Box 1232, Bridgetown, Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
E-Mail [email protected]
www.unicef.org/barbados