Cabot Saint Lucia, USAID Partner To Empower Youth

Cabot Saint Lucia and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have formalised their partnership in support of the Youth Resilience, Inclusion, and Empowerment (Y-IRE) programme. Y-IRE aims to enhance youth empowerment and strengthen community systems across Saint Lucia and other Caribbean nations. Phelps Feeley, Chief of Party for USAID, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, stating, “This partnership is a model for what private sector and social programmes can do together, and it’s the kind of whole-of-community approach needed for addressing today’s most challenging issues.” The USAID Y-IRE program works closely with governments, civil society, and private sector leaders to achieve its goals.  Feeley explained, “The USA Y-IRE programme is dedicated to improving learning outcomes for vulnerable youth, enhancing youth and young adult preparedness for the workforce, strengthening social services, and strengthening community and family systems here in Saint Lucia as well as in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Grenada.” Aurore Dorelien, Deputy General Development Director at USAID, highlighted the broader impact of such initiatives explaining that the partnership aims to provide opportunities for youth facing significant challenges, including crime and violence.    “Crime prevention is not just a matter of law enforcement; it’s about investing in opportunities, hope,...