A Youth Leader with countless visions

Photo contributed by Ricknell Marshall

“Aim for the sky, if you don’t make it you will land on the stars,” smiled 20 year-old Diego Morris CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Dean of the Jamaica Youth Ambassadors Programme (JYAP) and Co Author for the JASTYLE (Jamaica Solution to Youth Life and Empowerment) Advocacy Toolkit.

This is the important lesson he was taught as a student at Edwin Allen High, where he served as Prefect, Head Boy, Students’ Council President, member of the Cricket Team and President of the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC).

Growing up in Friendship, a community in Northern Clarendon, Diego’s most cherished memory as a child was going to a nearby river at night to fish. This powerful young man can no longer be found by the river, but at the University of the West Indies where he is pursuing a BSc in Economics and Statistics.

The Gleaner Online caught up with Diego recently to hear his views on youth leadership and the Caribbean Community.

Youth Advocacy & Leadership

GOL: What are the needs of youth leaders to better serve their communities?
DM: There is a need for greater self-discipline as young people and a greater level of genuine support and confidence from key decision makers in the country. 

GOL: You are the Minister of Youth outline one strategy you would use to engage and empower Jamaican youths?
DM: I would seek to dialogue, improve and implement the relevant suggestions made by young people for a better and more effective ministry while doing my best to give them the necessary autonomy to effectively express themselves.

GOL: Are we equipped to advocate on issues affecting our youths?
DM: Yes we are but with different areas of expertise. However, to ensure that advocacy is as effective as it should be, I would ensure that whenever youth leaders are elected/selected they are given the requisite training to properly advocate/express their thoughts, hence be able to share these skills with other young people.

Caribbean Community

GOL: Are young Jamaicans interested in the Caribbean Single Market & Economy (CSME)? How can we encourage them to be interested?
DM: Yes they are, however, a significant amount do not know enough of what is TRUE about the CSME. Therefore increasing awareness using a youth friendly message would greatly influence public debate, criticism and interest in the CSME.

GOL: Where do you see the Caribbean three years after the full implementation of the CSME?
DM: Putting in the hard work needed to bring to fruition the promises of the CSME.

GOL: Do you think your peers are ready or perhaps even willing to take leading roles in the CSME?
DM: YES, they would be more willing when more effort goes into exposing them to the true meaning of CSME, which is “a united CARICOM taking advantage of the opportunities for growth afforded by globalisation.”

GOL: How can Jamaican young people help to contribute to the development of the Caribbean Community?
DM: By reading more to get the real truth and coming forward with the ideas they have developed to make a better community. 

Diego opined that his most successful achievement to date was when he was elected President of the NSSC. “At the time no one expected a ‘little country boy’ to ascend to the highest elected post in secondary school student leadership,” he said.

“It was a challenge. I had to balance being a student, Head Boy and the Students’ Council President at Edwin Allen with primary responsibility for serving the students while maintaining the interest of the school. Then there was NSSC travelling to and from Kingston. That was a really rough time,” he remarked.

“I have learned self discipline and an appreciation for others and their ideas, whilst remembering you achieve nothing on your own.”
 
Diego is a young Jamaican who must be lauded for his contribution to Jamaica. He has come from being a ‘little country boy’ to a stalwart leader giving hope to Jamaica’s future.

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