Youth Affairs hits the road with new mobile community outreach

The Division of Youth Affairs has officially launched a nationwide mobile community outreach initiative, taking its services out of the office and directly into local neighbourhoods.

The rollout kicked off with its first stops at Passage Road and Deacons St Michael on Saturday, aimed at connecting youth aged 9 to 35 with vital developmental resources.

The outreach brings together several core agencies, including the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES), the Pathways youth development programme, and the Block Transformation Unit.

Public Relations Liaison Officer Wanda Reid-Beckles said the drive seeks to break down barriers to access.

“We’ve come out of the office into the community,” she stated. “This is us coming into the community to bring and share the programmes that we do… fulfilling dreams, building out the needs expressed by all young people.”

The outreach features on-the-spot registration for diverse initiatives, including a parenting programme, sports training, and employability workshops designed to get young people work-ready. Aspiring business owners can also hook up with dedicated YES officers for one-on-one mentorship.

Officials confirmed this is just the beginning of a broader campaign. Over the coming months, the mobile unit plans to travel across Barbados to ensure no community is left behind. (RR)