Barbadian is UNICEF’s youngest Youth Advocate in Eastern Caribbean

Twelve-year-old environmental advocate Maria Marshall is UNICEF’s youngest Youth Advocate in the Eastern Caribbean.

Representative of the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area, Dr Aloys Kamuragiye announced on Monday via Zoom that the Barbadian, along with 18-year-old environmental advocate and photographer Russell Raymond of Dominica were the newest UNICEF Youth Advocates from the sub-region.

They will join another Barbadian climate advocate, Ashley Lashley, along with Priyanka Lalla of Trinidad and Tobago, as youth advocates in a programme in which a select group of young people from all over the world – usually between the ages of 17 and 19 –  seek solutions for common problems, especially those that affect the youth.

“My message is: we only have one environment and we must protect it,” Marshall said after Dr Kamuragiye’s announcement. “My goal is that I really want to use social media to spread the message that the environment is important and that we need to protect it, and that climate change is real.”

Marshall, who last November had a conversation with Prime Minister Mia Mottley about some of her plans to help the country fight issues relating to climate change, has worked with UNICEF on various advocacy initiatives, including World Children’s Day 2020 and Youth Activate Talk Series.

She has produced an award-winning short film, Little Thoughts on Big Matters, and also has a YouTube channel of the same name, and an Instagram page which she uses to share information and provide commentary on the need to protect and preserve the environment.

The other Youth Advocate, Raymond said it was an honour to be given the title and promised to use his skills in photography to make a difference.

Dr Aloys, in his remarks, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap between the have and the have-nots, which existed even before the pandemic, and “we are at the crossroads regarding our children’s future”.

He said in the midst of the challenges, efforts must be redoubled to build a brighter future for young people, with them being active participants in that process. (AH)