To prepare Caribbean youth for real-world environmental and economic challenges, more than 1,500 students and 75 teachers will receive STEM training through the new EcoYouth Ventures initiative in St Lucia and two other Eastern Caribbean nations.
The Pan American Development Foundation has launched the programme with funding by Taiwan and in association with Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education.
It will be implemented over two years across Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The focus will be on equipping students and teachers to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to shape a greener, more resilient Caribbean future.
The programme will link STEM learning with environmental leadership and the growing priorities of sustainable tourism.
In a press release, Executive Director of PADF Katie Taylor said the project demonstrates the region’s willingness to modernise education.
She described EcoYouth Ventures as reflecting “Saint Lucia’s commitment to reimagining education as a tool for sustainable growth,” adding that by combining science, technology and environmental learning, the programme gives young people skills to “shape a greener and more prosperous future.”
The launch event took place at the Bay Gardens Hotel recently, where representatives from the government of Taiwan, the Ministry of Education, school principals, teachers, youth leaders and stakeholders from the tourism and environmental sectors gathered.
Speakers emphasised how education reform, innovation and climate resilience now intersect to prepare the upcoming generation for evolving regional needs.
Ambassador of Taiwan to Saint Lucia Nicole Su welcomed the partnership, describing the initiative as an opportunity to empower the region’s future leaders. “Taiwan welcomes this initiative to collaborate with Saint Lucia and the PADF in empowering the next generation of innovators,” she said, adding that through EcoYouth Ventures, the programme is “empowering our youth to build a more sustainable and resilient future”.
EcoYouth Ventures responds to the region’s growing demand for technical, digital and creative skills, especially in industries such as tourism, renewable energy and the blue economy. Students will be given practical opportunities to apply STEM concepts to community issues.
Activities will include teacher training sessions, Innovation Challenges and National STEM Fairs, through which students will develop skills in design thinking, entrepreneurship and environmental problem-solving.
PADF’s Education and Stakeholder Outreach Coordinator, Kerin Malaykhan, explained that the initiative is built on two core components. She highlighted that “the first – empowering and supporting teachers,” noting that the aim is “not to add to the teachers’ workload at all,” but to provide support, practical training and ready-to-use materials aligned with the national curriculum.
She added that a second pillar is the “innovation challenge”, where “students will be engaging in designing… testing out their ideas”, and throughout each unit, “students are encouraged to explore and design”.
The programme will culminate in the 2027 Regional Sustainability Summit, to be hosted in Saint Lucia. This event will feature top student teams from all three participating countries, offering opportunities to showcase innovative projects, exchange ideas and collaborate with mentors, industry experts and policymakers.
