Toward a model of promoting youth development in the Caribbean through agriculture investment

Abstract

For young people to be fully vested in society, they must be given the resources to become empowered for productivity. A model for engagement based on an analysis of a selection of youth agricultural programs with emphasis on those living in developing nations is presented. The model takes into account the social, cultural, ethnic, and resource diversity in the Caribbean region and argues that a flexible, rather than a fixed model is more contextually appropriate. After a review of select youth programs in the Caribbean and Africa, we offer a model with components that compliments particular circumstances within a country and would allow for flexible implementation. From this perspective, the face and, more importantly, the engagement of youth in Caribbean society can be significantly enhanced if these young people are supported by appropriate interventions that allow them to fully engage in the agricultural sector.

Keywords:

• rural youth
• Caribbean
• agriculture
• social capital

Notes

1. 1. (1) Programs worked with youth in multiple contexts, (2) youth were involved as active participants, (3) programs main focus was agriculture, and (4) used a youth development framework for program content and delivery.