Kingston, Jamaica — 2nd October 2025: The 3rd Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN) Meeting took place in Kingston, Jamaica, on 30 September 2025, as part of CTU ICT Week 2025 under the theme “Driving Change: Connecting Futures”. Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTU Deputy Secretary-General, welcoming the delegates underscored the importance of the CIYN in ensuring that the perspectives and leadership of youth remain central to the region’s digital transformation efforts. He emphasised that youth must not only be participants but also shapers of the ICT ecosystem.
Following this, Mr. Tariq Mohammed, Chair of the CIYN, delivered an overview of the network, outlining its progress since it was officially established and the vision moving forward. He highlighted the CIYN’s role as a platform for structured youth engagement in regional ICT policy and initiatives. During introductions, youth representatives shared their backgrounds, interests, and aspirations, setting the stage for a participatory dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing young people in the digital age.
The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Blenda Silva, Youth Focal Point at the International Telecommunication Union (Americas Region), who spoke on “The Role of Youth in Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Future.” She highlighted the growing recognition of youth as active agents of change in the global ICT landscape and stressed the need for Caribbean youth to seize opportunities to shape policy, innovation and ethical frameworks, particularly as new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly evolve.
A central segment of the meeting focused on opportunities for Caribbean youth presented by partners from across the ICT ecosystem. Ms. Camille Gayle from Intellibus underscored the importance of mentorship, training and real-world project exposure for building digital skills. The Liberty Foundation, represented by Mr. Jalen Monzac, discussed community-driven programmes and partnerships to empower youth through education and innovation; while Mr. Miguel Ignacio Estrada of LACNIC spoke to regional capacity-building initiatives, emphasising the importance of connecting Caribbean youth to global internet governance and technical training opportunities. Collectively, these interventions showcased the growing network of partners committed to supporting Caribbean youth in ICT.
The discussions then transitioned into a hackathon exercise on AI for Productivity and Ethical AI, facilitated by Intellibus. This highly interactive segment challenged youth participants to apply Al intelligence tools and concepts to practical scenarios, such as streamlining business processes; strengthening data analysis; and driving digital innovation. Participants were divided into groups and tasked with developing innovative solutions, which they later presented to their peers and facilitators. The exercise not only encouraged collaboration and creative problem-solving but also provided a platform for youth to showcase their ideas. At the close of the session, the top three groups were awarded prizes, recognising their ingenuity and reinforcing the value of youth-led innovation in the digital space.
Wrapping up the meeting, Ms. Gabrielle Johnson, Vice-Chair of the CIYN, outlined the network’s next steps. She emphasised the importance of institutionalising youth participation across CTU structures; building stronger collaborations with partners; and mobilising resources to support sustained involvement of young people in digital governance. She urged youth delegates to remain engaged and proactive in advancing the network’s agenda.
This forum reinforced CTU’s commitment to promoting youth leadership in the shaping of resilient, inclusive and forward‑looking digital societies. Here is what some youth had to say about the event:
“Informative, fun, and fiercely motivating. The 3rd CIYN Meeting showed that Caribbean youth are not waiting for the future, we are building it – through creativity, passion, and cross-island teamwork!”
— Shanelle McPherson, Jamaica
“CTU ICT Week 2025 was my first conference and it delivered! I connected with peers who have shaped CTU’s growth and met many youth leaders at the CIYN Meeting who I believe will strive to make a meaningful impact in the telecommunications field in the future!”
— Andre Cunningham, Jamaica
For more about the Caribbean ICT Youth Network, check out their webpage on the CTU’s website, at https://ctu.int/ciyn/.
