Scholarships to come under new Sustainable Energy Youth Empowerment Programme

The Ministry of Energy and Business has announced that a new Sustainable Energy Youth Empowerment Programme, set to launch next year, will be offering scholarships in refrigeration and air conditioning as well as motor vehicle technology.

The initiative, executed in collaboration with a local tertiary institution, is part of the government’s broader push to prepare the next generation for opportunities in renewable energy.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Kevin Hunte made the announcement on Thursday, during the Barbados Sustainable Energy Youth Forum, one of the flagship events for Energy Month this year. The forum is made possible with the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union.

The Sustainable Energy Youth Empowerment Programme will run for three years and offer scholarships in energy-related trades to help meet the country’s sustainable energy goals.

“We hope you will be able to benefit from these opportunities and others that are specifically crafted for you,” Hunte told the student audience at the forum.

He also encouraged the student audience to get in on the transition to renewable energy by using alternative sources of energy and reducing electricity usage where possible.

“We want to encourage you to promote energy conservation. So, turn off the light when you leave the room. Turn off the fans when you leave the room, for example. It is aimed at reducing the oil import bill and, more importantly, preserving our environment,” the permanent secretary advised.

Students were also encouraged to actively engage with experts and bring their newfound knowledge home.

“Ask your parents to see the electricity bill, break down what your household uses, and encourage energy-efficient practices,” Hunte said, further urging young people to pass on their knowledge to their parents, friends, colleagues, and neighbours.

Organiser of the forum and Project Manager in the Ministry of Energy, Rosalind Griffith highlighted the event’s focus on youth engagement in the renewable energy transition.

“Our aim is to continue to lay the foundation for a sustainable energy sector, and what better way to ensure that than by getting the youth plugged in as early as possible?” she said.

Griffith further noted the importance of preparing young people to capitalise on opportunities in the developing energy economy underscoring the opportunities it presents.

“Some [opportunities] may appear latent at this time, but they will emerge, and we want our youth to be ready to capitalise when they do,” she said.