Given how quickly the brain develops during early life and adolescence, the building of human and social capital must begin at a young age. Additionally, early development of health, cognitive, and non-cognitive talents results in increased return on investment for subsequent investments. Investments in programs geared toward children and youth therefore assist socioeconomic growth by laying a solid foundation. The total annual harm to society in many nations is in the range of a few percentage points of GDP. Rough calculations reveal that society suffers losses from avoidable dangerous behaviors that total billions of dollars. For instance, a variety of unfavorable juvenile behaviors in Latin America and the Caribbean lower economic growth by up to 2% annually. These figures do not account for intangible costs like psychological suffering, deteriorating health, decreased civic engagement, or generational repercussions.

1. Investing in Youth
UPSKILLING, MOBILIZING AND PROPELLING

2. 1. What makes the world go round?

3. So…. Why YOUTH?
With many competing demands for
scarce funds, countries often do not fully
recognize how critical young people are
to their national economies, societies,
and democracies – both today and in the
future – and consequently make too few
public investments in programmes to
harness their productive resources.

4. Exploring Youth
As tomorrow’s potential leaders, today’s youth are
challenged by:
1.Violence
2.Climate change
3.Shifting family structures
4.Intergenerational transmission of poverty
5.Educational disadvantage
6.Gender discrimination
Highly vulnerable to the health threats of injury,
substance abuse, sexual risk, and mental illness.
Their choices and the consequences of their
behaviors not only shape individual trajectories but
also influence the fate of entire societies and nations.

5. 2. What parish is the 7 miles beach in?

6. Unleashing
Youth
• While contemporary youth face
challenges, they also demonstrate a
technological sophistication in a
digitally interconnected world—and
greater access than their parents to
new ideas, information, and
innovation.
• With the right programmes, projects,
policies and investments, they can
become the problem-solvers,
entrepreneurs, and change agents
of the coming decades.

7. Why start NOW?
The accumulation of human and social capital must start at a young age as
the brain develops rapidly during early childhood and adolescence.
Moreover, early cognitive and non-cognitive skills and health capabilities
lead to enhanced effectiveness of later investment.
As a result, by building a strong foundation, investing in programmes
tailored to children and youth advances socioeconomic development.

8. 3. What is Louise Bennett-Coverley’s middle name?

9. The Consequences
Failing to invest in youth
triggers substantial
economic, social, and
political costs resulting
from negative outcomes.
Such as early school drop-
out, poor labour market
entry, risky sexual
behaviours, substance
abuse, and crime and
violence.

10. 4. Who was Jamaica’s First Female Prime Minister?

11. How do we Help?
Projects, Programmes and Policies
can address factors beyond the
young person.
People are a product of
the social and economic
influences that surround
them.
Some of the most effective child and youth development programmes address those factors that
help shape behaviours, such as:
•Families
•Communities
•Schools
•Media
•Legal system
•Social norms

12. Developing the Programme
Investment should be
made on grounds of
empirical evidence.
Investing in children and
youth can be made more
effective by focusing on
programmes for which
there is demonstrated
positive impact.

13. 5. What popular reality TV show did I get these
questions?

14. Effective Operations
Have the courage to close ineffective programmes, reallocating resources and
seeking appropriate additional funding.
Scaling down popular but ineffective, or detrimental programmes, such as ”get
tough” strategies, boot camps, abstinence-only programmes, or building youth
centres (rather than using existing structures), will provide fiscal space to invest in
more effective and promising programmes.
Partnerships and Endorsements

15. 6. Name two contestants of the Social House?

16. Way Forward
• Re-prioritizing the club’s investment strategy to emphasize youth
development programmes.
• Partner with local community groups that engage with youth, and expand
their capacity and reach.
• Host competitions that harness innovation and creativity in youth.
• Raise funds to provide support to youth (explore unique pathways).
• Conduct a gap-analysis and explore options to serve.