By Abbas Nazil
In a bold move to put young people at the forefront of sustainable development and food security, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors for Jamaica, Odane Brooks and Christal Parris-Campbell, spearheaded the launch of the Green Thumbs AquaEd School Garden Project at Clan Carthy High School in Kingston on June 4.
The initiative, aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture, includes the construction of an aquaponics system and food garden, along with comprehensive training for students and staff.
The event marked a major milestone as the visibility launch and contract signing for the project’s development and installation were formally conducted.
The project is a youth-led effort to transform traditional learning environments into innovation hubs that equip students with practical skills and knowledge related to climate-smart agriculture and food systems resilience.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, Dr. Gavin Bellamy, CEO of the National Fisheries Authority (NFA), emphasized the initiative’s critical role in fostering community-level innovation and food system sustainability.
“We are especially excited about the education and training component of this project,” Bellamy said, noting that the Ministry will provide technical support for the aquaponics system.
He praised the initiative for aligning with Jamaica’s vision of regional leadership in aquaculture development and underlined the value of integrating technology into agriculture and fisheries to address future challenges.
Odane Brooks, one of the project’s co-leads, presented a passionate overview of the initiative’s goals, stressing youth empowerment and the transformation of educational spaces. “This project is about empowerment.
It is about transforming learning spaces to help young people understand the challenges of their time and be equipped with the tools to lead solutions,” Brooks said.
He lauded the importance of institutions placing trust and resources in the hands of youth to drive positive change.
Christal Parris-Campbell offered a broader regional lens, tying youth leadership, climate change, and health together, while calling for greater inclusion of young voices in development efforts.
The event concluded with the formal signing of a consultancy agreement between technical consultant Paul Barrett and Ambassador Brooks, signaling the commencement of the implementation phase.
The Green Thumbs AquaEd project is being funded by the Pan American Health Organization and supported by key partners including the Leo Club of St Andrew Central, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Youth Education Association, and Jamaica 4-H Clubs.
Peter Thompson, Executive Director of Jamaica 4-H Clubs, assured that the project will go beyond its pilot stage to become a sustainable, fully integrated programme.
He emphasized that teachers will be trained, new curriculum materials will be developed, and standards of excellence will be introduced across the school system, supporting national efforts to rebrand agriculture as a tech-driven, viable career option for Jamaican youth.
Acting vice-principal Carlene McCook Allen welcomed the project as a timely intervention that bridges classroom learning with real-world application.
The initiative reflects the mission of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme, which seeks to connect policy with community action and position young leaders as key agents of regional development.
Through the Green Thumbs AquaEd initiative, Clan Carthy High School is set to become a model for how youth leadership can drive innovation in climate-smart agriculture and education.
