The “Strengthening Youth Governance in the Framework of the Sustainable Development Goals in St. Kitts and Nevis” project seeks to educate youth on the island of Nevis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with particular focus on youth governance. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and more particularly the Ministry of Social Development et al has made strides in ensuring the attainment of the SDGs by the year 2030. Two important elements of successfully reaching the 2030 SDG Goals are:
. Educating Youth on the Goals
. Strengthening the capacity of youth to play a lead role in the execution and realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Many of the young people are not aware of the goals. They do not know the importance of reaching these goals, nor do they know the implications should the federation not make great strides in the attainment of the SDGs. Although the onus has been placed on the Department of Sustainable Development and its partners, all stakeholders are cognizant on the fact that the youth are major stakeholders in achieving the goals and subsequently sustaining them.
The objectives of the project are:
.To increase youth participation in attaining the 2030 SDGs
.To create an enabling environment for youth to participate in the decision making processes on the island
. To build the capacity of youth and youth leaders in education for sustainable development
. To establish a platform through which youth can share their work in sustainable development.
The components of the project include:
. Monthly workshops/seminars which focus on SDGs. These will be carried out predominantly in rural communities.
. Monthly television awareness campaign which mirrors the SDG focus for the month.
. Murals across the communities depicting the seventeen (17) SDGs
. Creation on a SDG song with an extractable jingle.
. Youth Conference on Youth Governance and the SDGs
. Reformation of the constitution of the Nevis Island Youth Council’s constitution
. Training in delivering and achieving the SDGs for youth leaders