LocationsYouth Forum National Dialogue on Youth and Inclusive Development
February 6, 2026
Youth Forum members at the National Dialogue on Youth and Inclusive Development
Youth at the Centre of Inclusive Development
On 4 February 2026, City Hall in Port of Spain held space for an important youth dialogue. The UNDP Youth Forum for Gender, Justice and Security hosted a wide cross-section of youth leaders, government representatives, civil society organizations, private sector partners and members of the United Nations for the National Dialogue on Youth and Inclusive Development, convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Trinidad and Tobago Multi-Country Office. The youth proclaimed, "Right here on this stage is where collisions collide, where excuses die and solutions come alive."
Youth Forum members leading a Have Yuh Say Booth, encouraging dialogue, participation, and community voices.
The dialogue marked the official presentation of the Youth Landscape Assessment and invited collective reflection on how young people experience opportunity and safety, and how they participate in national life.
Opening the dialogue, UNDP Resident Representative Ugo Blanco grounded the conversation in partnership reminding participants that there should be "nothing about youth, without youth."
The discussion underlined that young people represent a significant share of Trinidad and Tobago’s population, yet the systems that shape education, employment, health and safety do not always align with their lived realities. The Youth Landscape Assessment, informed by a national survey of 92+ youth-focused organizations, offered a clearer picture of where youth development efforts are concentrated, where gaps persist, and how much of the work is carried by small, community-rooted organizations. A stark but well-noted reality.
Rather than presenting conclusions, the dialogue invited participants to sit with this complexity and listen across perspectives. The youth passionately articulated their views, "I'm done being vague, my target is engaged, I'm locked and loaded with rage. I mean passion. I'm rising against everything wrong like a phoenix does not know what to put the ash on."
Jedaiah Joseph delivering a spoken word performance, using poetry to express youth perspectives and lived experiences.
Throughout the day, youth voices were central. Members of the Youth Forum for Gender, Justice and Security contributed across all thematic discussions, sharing insights drawn from their places of work, family life as well as peer engagement.
Discussions on mental health and stigma surfaced the everyday pressures young people navigate, including expectations to appear strong, the fear of judgment and the challenge of finding spaces that feel safe and confidential. Youth panelists and presenters through spoken word pieces described how concerns are often minimized until ‘hard working young men and women are driven to their irreversible end’. One youth presenter, noted carefully,
I didn’t come to complain
I came to layout real issues youths face without restraint
As a fellow youth I take the stand to start the change with myself
And I urge all youths to do the same
I plead for adults to work with us and make our vision come through
It starts with me and you
Another youth participant reflected that shame often “feeds on itself,” making it harder to seek support. Others pointed to the importance of environments where expression is welcomed and taken seriously, at home, in schools and within institutions where they ‘can feel seen’. These reflections echoed broader findings from the assessment, where mental health emerged as one of the most significant cross-cutting issues affecting youth wellbeing and participation.
The dialogue on economic empowerment explored how young people think about work and stability in a changing labour market. Youth contributors spoke candidly about short-term survival strategies, cultural bias toward traditional careers and the need for mentorship that aligns skills with passion and purpose.
Jaada Abraham delivering a spoken word piece on mental health, highlighting youth experiences and emotional well-being.
As one panelist observed, the world of work is changing faster than systems designed to prepare young people for it hence creating pressure to adapt without adequate support.
Conversations on gender and equity brought forward youth perspectives on social norms, emotional silence and the persistence of gender-based violence. Participants highlighted the importance of early education, safer pathways for reporting harm and a more honest examination of how masculinity and femininity are shaped through families, schools, and communities. The call was not only for awareness, but for responsibility…starting earlier and held more consistently.
What distinguished the dialogue was the quality of engagement. Sensitive moments were met with attentiveness and support. Youth contributions were affirmed. As a result, several participants and organizations expressed interest in continued collaboration following the event.
In closing the dialogue, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Sharifa Ali-Abdullah reflected on what had emerged in the room: “What stayed with me was the care with which people listened to one another.”
Panelists on stage during the Youth Forum National Dialogue, engaging in discussions on Mental Health, Stereotypes and Stigma.
The National Dialogue brought together insights from community listening, youth-led engagement, and national assessment. It highlighted the depth of work already underway and the value of greater connection across sectors.
UNDP Trinidad and Tobago looks ahead with a commitment to continue working alongside youth, government, civil society, and partners in strengthening coordination, learning from what is already working and supporting youth leadership as a driver of inclusive development.
Across the dialogue, one message remained clear: young people are already contributing to and organizing change. The work ahead lies in ensuring that systems are connected and ready to meet that energy.
More opportunities are needed to address individuals involved in violence through counselling and community service; these options are not common enough. Imprisonment is not always the right approach, especially where rehabilitation, restorative and retributive justice models are possible.By Kenji Julien
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