New Seasons Youth Program

THE CARIBBEAN

Caribbean countries have long accepted that their greatest resource is their people and that their national and regional socio-economic advancement is linked to the development of this human resource.  Tertiary education has a critical role to play in this development.

For the region as a whole, the average GDP per capita is US $2,300.  However, if one removes from this calculation the 8 million inhabitants of Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere with an estimated GDP of US $440, the figure rises to US $4,400.

Though the Caribbean economies have the potential to establish lucrative niche
markets in new services industries, pursuing these opportunities will necessitate significant investments in training and education.  Success in securing the second objective, improved external competitiveness, will depend in large part on the enhancement of labour productivity.  For this too, additional training and education is key factors.

To different degrees, the Caribbean is currently challenged by changing demographic patterns, prevalent poverty, low productivity, increasing crime, low tertiary education enrolment, and setbacks by natural disaster, and changing work ethics.

Furthermore, unemployment has been a persistent problem in the region for several decades.  Unemployment rates are in double digits in almost all countries of the region due mainly to the low rates of economic growth experienced over recent years.

Nevertheless, vacancy rates for professional, managerial and skilled occupations are high across the Caribbean.  This is partly due to the low rates of enrolment in higher education.

The majority of countries in the region score relatively well on the UNDP’s Human Development Index.  Most Caribbean countries have improved significantly in raising basic levels of literacy, reducing infant mortality rates, improving life expectancy and increasing the quality of health care.  However, a minority of these countries are ranked among the least developed countries in the western hemisphere.

Hosea 4:6 say “My people parish for lack of knowledge”, although this verse refers to spiritual truth, we will apply this to secular learning as well.  In many instances, the young people of the Caribbean desire to seek after knowledge, however, many are not able to afford the cost of a higher education and in some instances there are no tertiary programs offered in their country, or at least not in their elected field of study.

New Seasons believes that education is critical for the future development of all countries in the region.  By providing educational opportunities, New Seasons will have equipped these young people with the knowledge necessary to make and implement life changing policies in the areas of public health, strong civic institutions, stronger rule of law, environmental effects, poverty reduction, and reduction of inequality which will all have a profound affect upon the people in their respective countries.

New Seasons

"Bridging the Gap between International Students and American Colleges & Universities"

According to the World Bank, the region's labour force must become more internationally competitive.  The narrowing of the knowledge gap is also considered a key strategy for Caribbean development.

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.

Did you know these Caribbean Leaders obtained their college education in the United States:

Dame Ivy Dumont - Governor General - Bahamas 

University of Miami

Lester Bird- Prime Minister -

Antigua & Barbuda

University of Michigan

Roosevelt Skerrit - Prime Minister -

Dominica

University of Mississippi