This month, we want to shine a spotlight on the inspiring youth of the Cayman Islands who are making great strides - not just in their communities but on the international stage. We are thrilled to showcase the outstanding work they’ve been doing and the exciting events they’ve been attending to represent the Cayman Islands.

Youth Parliament

The Cayman Islands was pleased to participate in the UK Youth Parliament this month. This year’s delegate was Jak Hurlstone, a 16-year-old from the Cayman Islands. Jak made a terrific speech, raising the important issue of access to education for neurodiverse students, focusing on the need for inclusive accommodations in secondary education and pathways to higher education.

More than 260 students sat on the green benches in the House of Commons to represent their communities, with delegates coming from across Britain, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to address pressing issues such as diversity, climate change, and youth opportunities.

The Cayman Islands is proud to have contributed to such a significant event, where young voices were given the opportunity to shape policies affecting their futures.

UKOTA Youth Summit

This year, three delegates from the Cayman Islands attended the UKOTA OT Youth Summit at BVI House.
Thea Shaye Foster, Brittany Evans and Jak Hurlstone joined fellow participants at the exciting event, where they contributed to key discussions and represented the Cayman Islands.

As you may know, the UKOTA OT Youth Summit is a vital platform which empowers young citizens from the UK Overseas Territories. Launched in 2023, it fosters dialogue, thought leadership, and collaboration across the UKOTs.

This year’s Summit focussed on Diversity and Inclusivity in the Overseas Territories, with discussions focussing on neurodiversity and disability in education, LGBTQ+ rights and immigration and migration from the perspective of the UKOT youth.

Attendees were excited to welcome Adam Pile, Deputy Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to the UKOTA Youth Summit, where he made insightful remarks and engaged with the delegates who are driving change across the UK Overseas Territories. It was a fantastic opportunity for the young leaders to connect with a senior UK civil servant, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights.

VANESSA BURKE

We wanted to highlight the fantastic work of one Caymanian – Vanessa Burke.

Vanessa is the first Caymanian to be appointed Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme and recently represented the Cayman Islands at the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados and the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Apia, Samoa.

Vanessa’s participation as a special invitee marks a significant milestone for both her and the Cayman Islands, showcasing the region's commitment to youth leadership and engagement on the global stage. Her presence emphasised the importance of including young voices in critical conversations about regional challenges and opportunities.

Speaking at the event, Premier Hon Juliana O’Connor-Connelly said:

"I have left the conference not only with a clearer understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our region, but with a sense of optimism based on the commitment and cooperation of leaders across the region…

I am also thankful to see CARICOM’s inclusion of our young people at the highest level with our Vanessa, the first ever Dean from Cayman participating in the proceedings."

Vanessa is currently in the UK where she is representing the Cayman Islands at the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Summit from 3-14th March. The summit brings together over 40 youth leaders from across the Commonwealth to explore emerging youth development issues and strengthen collaboration on youth-led initiatives.

Vanessa’s representation of the Cayman Islands at this prestigious conference is another powerful example of her leadership, reinforcing her role as a voice for young people in the Commonwealth. This invaluable opportunity has seen her engage with youth leaders from around the world, build global partnerships, and work on solutions to shared challenges. We are very proud of her!

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