The government has called on faith-based organisations to spearhead new programmes tackling youth deviance, as it launches a $5m annual fund to support initiatives aimed at building skills, employment pathways and stronger community values.
Minister of the Third Sector Colin Jordan made the call during the annual Faith-based Symposium at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Friday, held under the theme Building Our Young People, Our Future, Our Legacy.
Jordan said: “Funding is not the goal. Funding is merely an instrument. Impact is the goal: changing lives, changing perspectives, changing outlooks. That is the goal of the fund that government has set up. Transformation is the goal. This is why government has established a dedicated fund, five million Barbados dollars annually, to support faith-based organisations with impactful, results-driven proposals.”
The initiative comes as the government recognises the resource constraints facing many faith-based organisations, particularly in the post-COVID period, Jordan said.
“These are really intended to strengthen programmes that keep young people engaged in positive activities, equipping them with practical skills and opening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.”
The funding will also support new initiatives, he added:
“You may have new ideas, new programmes that you feel can be impactful with respect to our young people in terms of their guidance, and the fund is also to assist with what would be new programmes.”
During the symposium, faith leaders reviewed a draft government proposal, with the minister inviting feedback before it is finalised.
“Government is anxious to get this programme on the road, and as a matter of fact, I was in the position where I sent a draft already to Cabinet, but Cabinet has not yet discussed it,” Jordan said. “We use this opportunity in the ministry to hear perspectives and to see if there are any tweaks, any adjustments that we have to make, or if you feel it is so badly put together that we have to toss it out and start fresh.”
Jordan stressed that the success of the initiative will depend on measurable outcomes.
“We must be able to point to outcomes such as increased youth participation in structured programmes, greater access to skills training, and greater access to employment pathways. We need to be able to point to reduced involvement in crime and antisocial behaviour, stronger families, stronger community networks, good morals, sound values, with a positive focus being demonstrated by our young people.
“We are to build a generation that is not only employable but responsible, not only ambitious but grounded, not only skilled but principled.”
He underscored the importance of accountability in the use of public funds.
“Good intentions must be translated into well-designed programmes where vision is supported by planning and passion, met with measurable targets. We must be able to look back and see whether or not our expenditure has been met with the results we expected.”
The symposium also focused on strengthening the capacity of faith-based organisations, with an emphasis on ensuring they are spiritually, administratively and strategically equipped to deliver sustainable impact.
To support this effort, the government engaged Karen Phillips, founder of Kainos Caribbean, to train organisations in proposal development and grant writing.
Jordan said: “Decisions will have to be made on which projects, which proposals to fund. You do not want to be in a situation where you have an excellent idea but it is not well enough crafted that those making the decisions on disbursement are not able to recognise value in your idea.”
Highlighting the broader goal, Jordan said the initiative is aimed at transforming outcomes for young people and communities:
“When young people are trained, certified and supported, they transition more effectively into the labour market, they become contributors rather than dependents, and they become innovators rather than bystanders.
“When communities rally around their young people, something powerful happens. Hope replaces despair, purpose replaces idleness, and peace replaces disorder.”
