Caribbean Youth Development : Issues and Policy Directions

Young people are the basis for the future health and welfare of their communities. Understanding the critical role of young people to the security of sustainable development, this text draws attention to both the important contributions youth have made to the Caribbean society and the critical challenges they face in assuming socially responsible and productive roles in the years to come. Organized into seven chapters, this report provides an overview of the risks Caribbean youth are facing as well evidence of the protective and risk factors underlying the problems confronting youth in the region and an estimation of costs of risky youth behaviours. It also includes an overview of the policy framework and the types of programmes in place that target youth. The report advocates the prioritization of youth development across all sectors and identifies key principles for moving forward.