The Henry W. Charles Foundation (HWCF) and the Henry Charles Commonwealth Cup (HCCC) welcome the upcoming regional observance of Caribbean Youth Day next week.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations have observed September 30 as Caribbean Youth Day since 1985 and this year’s theme is “Caribbean Youth in Action: Localizing the SDGs, Shaping Our Future.”
Tuesday’s theme emphasizes the vital role of youth in bringing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to life in Caribbean communities.
It also highlights youth as active leaders, innovators and changemakers, who transform global ambitions into tangible local solutions — from advancing climate resilience and social equity, to driving cultural pride and digital innovation.
The SDGs, also known as ‘The Global Goals’, were adopted by the UN in 2015, as a universal call to action to ‘End Poverty, Protect the Planet’ — and to ensure that ‘By 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity.’
The 17 SDGs are integrated, recognizing that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must also balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
As 2030 approaches, governments everywhere – including The Caribbean – are expected to localize implementation of SDGs, to enhance coordinated and united global approaches.
By localizing the Goals, Caribbean youth can help better bridge the gap between policy and practice, to ensure that development is inclusive, relevant and future-focused.
The 2025 theme also recognizes that youth are not just preparing for tomorrow, but are actively shaping The Caribbean today.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, with youth representing over 25% of the population, it is crucial to invest in their inclusion — as essential agents of change — to overcome these inequalities and promote more-just, inclusive and peaceful societies.
Caribbean youth are already actively involved in achieving the SDGs through advocacy campaigns, policy discussions and community-based initiatives focused on issues like youth employment, health and climate resilience.
In 2008, Dr Henry Charles made an urgent call (in Saint Lucia) for “governments and the relevant agencies to visibly demonstrate the appropriate consciousness, vision and political will to adopt and implement more sustainable youth development strategies, wherever necessary.”
He added that “a major development objective would be accomplished if the courage and foresight to embrace and implement effective youth mainstreaming strategies are visibly demonstrated.”
Dr Charles also invoked the wise counsel of the legendary Bob Marley and Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie in the song ‘War’, to say:
“Unless there is a fundamental paradigm shift in youth development, the pursuit of sustainable national and regional will remain but a fleeting illusion — to be pursued but never attained.”
Indeed, Amina Mohammed, the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, says today: “The litmus test for the success of the SDGs is whether we can translate young people’s voices to reality.”
Against this background, the Foundation was established to promote youth and sport development across CARICOM, through related activities at community, national, regional and international levels.
Launched simultaneously in the UK (Bromley) and the Caribbean (Saint Lucia), the HCCC is currently working with football interests on both sides of The Atlantic, to internationalize Caribbean youth’s global outreach through sports.
The HCCC and the Foundation are preparing for several national, regional and international football events, educational and motivating sessions, through webinars and community activities that will also involve parents and sporting personalities.
They recently established contact with Proverbs FC, a UK-based team owned by Nathan Philips, described as an amazing Saint Lucian coach respected by international players and academies in the UK.
Philips will be one of the main presenters in the first of a series of football and sporting webinars, on the topic ‘From Fields to Future: Building Resilient Youth Through Community Sport’.
The Foundation and Bromley FC are also planning a football event (in Bromley) on November 29.
Meanwhile, Dr Madgerie Jameson-Charles, the Foundation’s chair, will head to Malaysia in November, for a presentation of the Henry Charles Youth Worker Award.
The Foundation is in constant contact with Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, where Dr Henry Charles worked for several years as its international Director for Youth.
Both entities are planning as well for unique types of participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Foundation and the HCCC are registered in Saint Lucia, with Boards of Directors representing various disciplines, including youth, sports, education, culture and media.