A Platform for Regional Impact
We are thrilled to share the success of The Bahamas Youth Sector Conference (BYSC), held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MYSC) and the Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA), and kindly sponsored by Aetos Holdings Limited. The two-day event took place on March 26-27 in Nassau and brought together nearly 60 delegates from various youth-focused organizations across The Bahamas.
Under the theme ‘Working for Young People: Safe and Impactful Delivery’, the conference aimed to strengthen organisational capacity through knowledge-sharing, providing essential training in Safeguarding and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and cross-sector collaboration—laying the groundwork for a more cohesive and resilient youth ecosystem.
Will Straw, CEO of King’s Trust International, shared:
“At King’s Trust International, we firmly believe that circumstance should be no barrier to success. We are proud to have supported over 7,000 young people across the Caribbean to gain skills, find meaningful jobs, and set up their own businesses. It has been a pleasure to partner with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Governor General’s Youth Award to strengthen the system of support for young people here in The Bahamas.”
The conference was convened under the patronage of Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, and we were honoured to welcome distinguished guests, including the Right Honourable Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Edward Davis MP KC; Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Mario Bowleg and UK High Commissioner to The Bahamas His Excellency. Tom Hartley.
In his opening remarks Hon. Mario Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, stated:
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that our young people have access to opportunities in environments that are safe and supportive, empowering them to reach their full potential. This conference serves as a platform to enhance our collective capacity in safeguarding, ensuring that all youth programs are effective, sustainable, and aligned with global best practices.”
From Training to Transformation
The event featured a rich agenda of workshops, panels and discussions designed to equip youth sector organisations with the right tools to enhance Safeguarding and implement robust M&E frameworks. The sessions emphasized the importance of safe environments, strategic impact measurement and shared learning across sectors.
Panel Discussion: Accelerating Action – Partnerships for the SDGs
Moderated by our CEO, Will Straw, our panel featured experts Lashante Sampson (National Youth Ambassadors Corp), Sandena O. Neely (Director of Youth, MYSC), and Jacquetta Lightbourne-Maycock (Director, GGYA), this panel explored how multi-sector collaboration is critical for youth development. Speakers highlighted innovative models and lessons learned from cross-sector partnerships, emphasising that collective action is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants reflected on the need for strong governance, mutual accountability and adaptive leadership in building partnerships that deliver long-term value, all while centring youth.
Fireside Chat: Leveraging M&E – The Art of Storytelling
In an insightful and reflective session, Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle, Executive Director of the Lyford Cay Foundation, led a discussion on the power of narrative in impact reporting. She shared practical strategies for how organisations can use M&E not just as a compliance tool, but as a storytelling mechanism that communicates value, drives investment and informs policy.
By aligning data with real-life impact stories, organisations were encouraged to present more compelling cases for their work, particularly when engaging donors and policymakers.
Skill Development and Peer Learning
Beyond panel discussions, the conference also provided hands-on learning
opportunities through structured workshops on Safeguarding practices and M&E frameworks. These sessions offered practical guidance on risk management, youth protection protocols, data collection and analysis methods. Participants also engaged in peer-led knowledge sharing, gaining insights into regional best practices and exploring opportunities for long-term collaboration.
Highlighting the importance of the event, National Youth Ambassador Ashanta Ramsey stated:
“The Safeguarding training with [KTI] has been eye-opening. Engaging with other local groups and learning of the strategies they use gives me hope for our future. I am reminded that protecting our youth is not just about creating systems – it’s about building them with young people and ensuring real impact.”
Participant Feedback and Outcomes
The impact of the conference was immediately evident in the feedback from participants. Prior to the event, 43% of attendees had limited knowledge of M&E frameworks and 14% were unfamiliar with Safeguarding practices. By the end of the conference:
- 100% of participants said they had improved their understanding of safeguarding and M&E
- 96% reported gaining practical skills in key areas
- 93% expressed high satisfaction with the event, especially praising the purposeful activities, knowledgeable presenters and networking opportunities
- 100% felt engaged throughout the two days
- 90% said they could easily share what they learned with their teams or organisations.
This clear shift in confidence and capacity underscores the importance of continued professional development across the youth sector.
Coming Together for a Shared Vision
Following The Bahamas Youth Sector Conference, we co-hosted a celebratory dinner together with UK High Commissioner to The Bahamas H.E. Tom Hartley and King’s Trust Patron India Hicks at The British Residence in Nassau. We were honoured to be joined by Prime Minister of The Bahamas Hon. Philip Davis KC MP and First Lady Ann-Marie Davis along with other distinguished guests.
Throughout the evening, we delved into the challenges young people are facing in The Bahamas and around the world, and how, as part of our 10-year vision, we aim to strengthen local youth ecosystems through events like the BYSC. The importance of working together to address crises impacting young futures and to create sustainable change was a key theme, with attendees sharing their personal reflections and insights from other business and charity initiatives.
The evening concluded with a powerful video message from His Majesty King Charles III, who spoke about how The Trust helps young people acquire the skills they need to build a brighter future and the importance of a “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out.”
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua & Barbuda next year, we remain committed to supporting and learning from youth sectors across the Caribbean.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participating organisations for attending and sharing their insights and encourage readers to find out more about their work linked below.
Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young people worldwide.
Learn more about the participating organisations
National Youth Senate
Progressive Labour Party
New Light Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers
Eleuthera Basketball & Football Association
National Youth Ambassadors Corps
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture
The Bahamas Archery Federation
The Scout Association of The Bahamas
National Baptist Missionary and Educational Youth Department
Princess Court Ministries Fort Charlotte
Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness Fitness Federation
Exceptional Education Outreach Bahamas
Church of God of Prophecy National Youth Ministry
Faces of Beauty
Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association
CHANGE ORGANIZATION