Highlight on Youth Workers in Jamaica

The Jamaica Professional Youth Workers' Association in the first week of November 2021 joins the Commonwealth Youth Workers' Alliance in celebrating youth workers across the commonwealth under the theme "Champions of Youth Work".

In Jamaica, the month of November is celebrated as Youth Month. This is one of the busiest time in Jamaica for youth workers, as they plan, coordinate and implement activities for the empowerment of young people. This year youth month was celebrated under the theme “evolve”

Today as we complete Youth Month celebrations we want to take this opportunity in highlighting and celebrate Yanique Williams, as a true Champion of Youth Work who has dedicated her life to public service as a Youth Worker for the past 15 years. Yanique Williams is presently the Senior Programme Development Specialist and Youth Month Coordinator in the Youth and Adolescent Policy Division, Ministry of Education Youth and Information. Her strong leadership and critical thinking skills has resulted in the conceptualization of programmes and initiatives at the community and national level in an effort to continue creating positive impact among the Jamaican Youth population.

Yanique Williams is a nation builder who is ever-evolving as a youth development practitioner and is the founder of the Yanique Williams Phoenix Award and Scholarship Fund. This scholarship and fund has been in existence for the past 6 years which seeks to award Students and youth in St. Thomas who often lead from behind with the will, spirit and resilience of a phoenix. The award also empowers and motivates young people to continue to strive for excellence.

Her commitment to contributing to nation-building and socio-economic development has bestowed upon her a true Champion of Youth Work.

The Jamaica Professional Youth Workers Association November 30 2021