CARICOM Badge Workshop Empowers Scouts and Guides with Regional Awareness and Unity

Bridgetown, Barbados – Saturday, January 10th, 2026 — A dynamic and engaging workshop aimed at preparing youth organisations for the implementation of the CARICOM Badge, was held on Saturday, January 10th, at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael. The session brought together members of the Barbados Boy Scouts Association and the Girl Guides Association of Barbados.

The CARICOM Badge initiative was conceptualised in April last year (2025), by Ms. Ashley Lashley, former Barbados CARICOM Youth Ambassador, as a strategic effort to strengthen regional awareness, unity, and understanding among young people. The badge is designed to help the member of the Girl Guides Association of Barbados and the Barbados Boy Scouts Association better understand what CARICOM represents and how regional cooperation plays a critical role in shaping a shared Caribbean future.

The workshop was described by participants as fun, interactive, and impactful, staying true to the spirit and objectives of the badge. Through discussion, activities, and engagement, Scout Leaders and Guiders were introduced to the importance of CARICOM and exposed to opportunities to learn more about Caribbean countries, cultures, and shared regional goals.

Also in attendance were the current Barbados CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, Janae Herbert and Christopher Brathwaite, along with their alternates Jennifer Burrows and Kalan Alleyne, who will play a key role in the implementation of the CARICOM Badge moving forward. Their presence highlighted the continuity of leadership and the importance of youth-led advocacy and education.

Participants welcomed the initiative, noting that the CARICOM Badge provides a valuable opportunity not only to deepen their understanding of CARICOM, but also to broaden their appreciation of the wider Caribbean community. Leaders from both organisations agreed that initiatives such as this one are essential in shaping informed, confident, and regionally minded young people, who are the future leaders of the Caribbean and the world.

Ms. Lashley expressed her pleasure with the outcome of the workshop, describing the experience as incredibly rewarding. She noted her pride in seeing the current CARICOM Youth Ambassadors confidently taking the lead in advancing the initiative. “To see the badge come to life and to witness the next generation carrying it forward is deeply fulfilling,” she shared.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment continues to support programmes and partnerships that promote youth development, regional integration, and leadership, reaffirming its commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and values needed to thrive in an interconnected Caribbean.