On Tuesday 5 August 5 2008, eight members of the Anguilla Youth Association (AYA) travelled to Barbados to attend Caribbean Youth Vibes 2. This five-day conference was held at the Barbados Beach Club and hosted representatives from across the Caribbean. The participating countries included Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and host country Barbados.
Caribbean Youth Vibes was founded by the Caribbean Health Lifestyle Project (C-HLP), which was established in 2000 to increase the involvement of Caribbean young people in physical activity and to promote the value of healthy lifestyle choices. C-HLP aims to combine sports with personal development in an effort to instil a value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, along with fostering leadership capacity among youths.

The Anguilla Youth Association delegates at Caribbean Youth Vibes 2 in Barbados

The theme of this year’s Conference was “Becoming a Person of Influence” with its primary objectives being to increase the effectiveness of the leadership of the youth of the Caribbean at all levels in the Programme, to enhance the quality of the Programme content and delivery, to achieve the goals of the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyles Project (C-HLP), and to sustain the Programme in all affiliate territories.
The highlights of the conference included numerous presentations on integral self-development topics such as “Being in Integrity”, “Negotiating Safer Sex Practices” and “Fishing 101 – A process for enlarging and empowering others.” There was also a Talent Night, where there was a vibrant and entertaining display of culture and a Sports Day in which the three teams (Health, Friendship and Sports) competed in highly spirited yet friendly games.
The youngest member of the Anguilla delegation, Ms. Whitney Harrigan, expressed that the conference truly helped to empower her as a youth and revealed that she

The Anguilla Youth Association delegates at Caribbean Youth Vibes 2 in Barbados

was inspired and motivated by one of the quotes she heard during the Conference: “The real contest is always between what you have done and what you are capable of doing.”
The other delegates Jelani Banks, Kareem Bradley, Sherise Brooks, Kahlea Clifton, Keivelle Lake, Patriese Richards, and Denvil Ruan all expressed similar sentiments. They described the conference as being extremely productive and felt that they have benefited tremendously from the knowledge and skills gained. They would like to express sincere thanks and gratitude to The Sports Directorate, The Youth and Culture Department, and Ms. Farah Mukhida, who were instrumental in making it possible for them to attend this conference. As a result of this conference they have each been better equipped with the necessary values to become a ‘person of influence’ in their community. They all eagerly anticipate Youth Vibes Three, which is scheduled to be held in Guyana in 2009.
Press Release

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