Rhys D. Campbell - Member Profiles - Community

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rhysdcampbell
Rhys D. Campbell


Title and Organization:		Youth Ambassador, National Centre for Youth Development
Gender and Age:		Male, 26
Location:		Kingston 8, Jamaica
Country of Residence:		Jamaica
Nationalities:		Jamaican
Citizenships:		Jamaica
Languages:		English , Spanish



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About Me

Wow! There is so much to say. Let me tell you a little about Jamaica. I live in a country with chilling statistics. Jamaica has a relatively young population of approximately 1.7 million young persons under the age of 30 years of a total population of 2.6 million persons. In all the major regions of the world, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, the rate of youth unemployment fluctuates between 40% to 82% of the youth labour force. In my country, the rate of youth unemployment exceeds 33% compared with 9.7% for the adult population. I have never been a Mathematician but if 33% of a 62% labour workforce is unemployed and the remaining 29% are severely underemployed then I know we are bound to have social problems.

These statistics have moved me greatly. The first involvement I had in youth affairs took place in July 2000 when I attended a Leadership Training seminar in Grenada. I realized that I could advocate the problems affecting my peers with unemployment and underemployment. I have since become the voice for the voiceless. The Jamaica Youth Ambassador’s Programme gives me an opportunity to advocate for the young people of Jamaica. As an Ambassador for change I am constantly in touch with my peers in order to ascertain what they feel should be the way forward.

My keen interest in representation of the underrepresented led me to play a crucial rule in my country. I have participated in national consultations involving youth from all walks of life. Moreover, I have spoken with the young man on the corner, willing, yet desperate, for any form of work. I know that unemployment is of grave concern for the young people of Jamaica.

I often ask myself, what can be done to change this? The education system has been described by many social scientists as archaic. In the worst case scenarios it has been blamed for having an unchanging and uncreative academic focus and thus considered a major contributor to high unemployment among youth. The low levels of educational attainment of the youth leaving the formal education system is a common cause for concern. In Jamaica, each year approximately 55,000 young persons come on the job market at the age of 17. The majority of these young persons have low levels of vocational skills, literacy and numeracy, which render them virtually unemployable.

I know the problem of unemployment does not exist only in Jamaica. It is a regional, and perhaps even a global phenomenon, affecting the lives of billions of the world’s most useful assets for social transformation. Being a participant in the Youth Employment Summit will enable me to learn some of the best practices of other youth leaders in my region and throughout the world. My experience in regional conferences has shown that the problems are most times similar but every country has a different approach. That is what sets this summit apart.
The linkage of young people from every corner of the world will provide an outcome document that can be taken seriously. Shared experiences will assist young people to work together for a common cause and to actually do something for unemployed youth. I have been to many conferences on youth, both internationally and nationally but few have much to offer in comparison to the YES. I know that most of my contribution to YES 2002 will occur when I get home.

I will present a proposed national plan of action to my Minister of Youth, my Prime Minister, the Head of State and other relevant Government institutions. Follow-up action is also very necessary. Countries must not only adopt the YES 2002 goals, but struggle to abide by them. Immediate action is what sets this summit apart. Follow-up action will keep this summit alive. We need to ensure that our political leaders keep their promises.

The crime situation in Jamaica shows that youth aged 16 to 25 accounted for 52% of crimes in 2000. Further studies have indicated that nearly all of these persons were unemployed or underemployed. The way forward is clear. My community needs me to make a difference. The unemployed youth need me to speak for them. My society needs me to get young people off the street and into worthwhile jobs. I need YES to make a difference. My country development is depending on it.

Countries Visited

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