Global Jamaican Diaspora Youth Council

BY DAVE RANKIN

For youth, living in the diaspora may come with its perks. I mean, let’s face it. The opportunities are boundless. It is with these opportunities that the hustle and bustle of this new place soon follows. And sooner than you know it, you have created a goal for yourself, a plan to get there, and a routine to help along the way. Through this focus, one can achieve great things as it has done for so many before us. However, along this great journey of ours, this routine can leave us feeling lonely; and where there is loneliness, there is a lack of connection that we long for. This feeling can curtail our efforts as we need something that not only reminds us of home, but something to let us know that we are not alone while we are on this path.

Whether it’s through shared stories, similar tastes, and smiling faces, especially from those who have been there before us. Once received, the road may not seem as long and arduous as we first thought. This is part of the reason why the soon to be Global Jamaican Diaspora
Youth Council held its youth meeting on October 3^rd at the JCA.

The youth meeting was established to ensure that our youth in the diaspora are not alone in this. You will have people just like you, supporting your every step along the way. As President of the JCA, Adaoma Patterson put it, “there’s so many people behind you, propelling you forward. You are a part of the history of this place.” As soon as those words were heard, you could see the members of the audience could not help to feel as if they were part of something really warm and special.

Officially, the Global Jamaican Diaspora Youth Council was endorsed at the 8^th Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference this past June where a benchmark was established. With that being said, the government of Jamaica has launched a framework advising that our, ”Youth need to be seen at the forefront forging a path”, as empathically stated by Consulate Lloyd Wilks. It is this path the government believes in, that allowed them to coordinate three Youth Council meetings in three different countries on the same day, with the United States and the UK being the other two countries involved.

“You are making history, the first of its kind,” continued Lloyd Wilks as he ensured the crowd that they have the full support of his office. The fact that the government of Jamaica wants to, “identify youth through leaders globally and work with them exclusively with member offices,” is a clear indication of the investment in our youth that many have been looking for publically. Here is that sense of connection we were talking about. Just think, being able to connect with people like yourself, and member offices, sharing ideas and shaping policy is something many of us have dreamed of.

Youth Leader, Natalee Johnson also advised the audience that we must, “take initiative, by tapping into the knowledge and sharing information.” With that statement, Natalee hit the nail on the head. We must act now and take advantage of what is presented in front of us. Opportunities like this one come a dime a dozen, and we definitely do not want to miss out on something as prestigious as this.

So I encourage those of us who are reading this now to get involved. Learn how the skills that you have earned here in the diaspora can be part of something among your wildest dreams. Learn how to be intimately involved in the process of shaping our beloved Land of Wood and Water, Jamaica the land we love.

For more information please reach out to Youth Leader, Ms. Natalee Johnson at region1ca@gjdyc.org.

One Love.