In outlining her vision for the role, Simon emphasised the priorities that will guide her tenure. She will champion policies that strengthen nutrition education, non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, mental health, peace, life skills development, and pathways to employment.
Her goal is to empower Caribbean youth with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to become active citizens and shape the future of CARICOM.
“I am honoured to serve as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps,” said Simon. “My work with young people across the Region has shown me the urgent need to strengthen youth mental health support and nutrition. I believe we can transform how young people access services by empowering their peers to lead the way.”
Michele Small-Bartley, Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, welcomed Simon’s appointment:
“Janet brings to this role a deep passion for youth development, a creative spirit, and a clear commitment to service. I am especially encouraged by her strong interest in mental health advocacy and the fresh, thoughtful approaches she hopes to bring to the Programme. Her leadership comes as we continue working to strengthen the voice, visibility, and participation of CARICOM Youth Ambassadors across the Region.”
A trained educator and Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador, Simon brings a wealth of experience in youth advocacy, education, and peacebuilding to her new regional role. Her platforms span the Sustainable Development Goals, with a strong focus on health, education, sanitation, climate action, and peace. She is committed to expanding opportunities for Caribbean youth to thrive in these areas.
At home, Simon is widely recognised for her national School Tour, which delivers life skills education to thousands of students, and for her innovative “Peace through Art” series. She also leads capacity-building workshops for youth organisations and is an active member of Healthy Caribbean Youth, where she champions comprehensive school nutrition and mental health policies.
Her advocacy has reached the global stage, with interventions at the World Bank and the United Nations, where she highlights the priorities of Caribbean youth.
The role of Dean rotates every 12 months among CARICOM Member States and Associate Members in alphabetical order.
The CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme (CYAP) is the official youth arm of CARICOM. It is a dynamic regional network of young leaders who advocate for their peers, amplify youth perspectives in policy discussions, and advance Caribbean integration goals.
The CYAP was initially the Regional Youth Ambassador Programme (RYAP) and was launched at the Conference of Heads of Government during the 20th Anniversary of signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1993.
The programme was formally instituted in 1994, initially under the coordinating purview of the Culture Desk at the CARICOM Secretariat and later transferred to a reactivated Youth Desk in 1997.
From its inception, the Youth Ambassador Programme has contributed to increased youth knowledge and awareness of CARICOM issues and priorities; has raised the profile of young people at the national and regional levels; and has assisted in integrating the views and perspectives of young people from across the Region into national, regional and international policy and programmes.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda’s Janet Simon Appointed Dean of CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps.