Students were lauded for their creativity and vision at the Announcement of Winners and Awards Ceremony for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Creative Expression Competition, on March 19, at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston.
The initiative, which was spearheaded by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Sustainable Development Goals Secretariat, in collaboration with e-Learning Jamaica (e-LJam), provided students with a platform to creatively express their vision for Jamaica’s future through artwork, storytelling, poetry and other written forms.
The competition enabled participants to showcase their talents, while contributing meaningfully to Jamaica’s future development, in alignment with Vision 2030 Jamaica.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, Permanent Secretary, Denzil Thorpe, commended the organisers and participants for advancing awareness of the SDGs through creative expression.
“This competition was designed to engage young people in Jamaica’s national development agenda by showcasing their artistic and literary talents, highlighting the country’s progress towards achieving the SDGs,” Minister Grange said.
She noted that entries from students in grades four to 13 not only earned awards but will also be featured in Jamaica’s 2026 Voluntary National Review (VNR), to be submitted to the United Nations.
“However, the competition was never just about winning. It was about connection, expression and recognition… an opportunity for young people to share their perspective and creativity with a wider audience,” she added.
Minister Grange further highlighted Jamaica’s alignment with the SDGs through the Vision 2030 National Development Plan, pointing to progress, in areas such as poverty reduction, education and climate resilience.
She said that the country is currently ranked 12th in Latin America and the Caribbean for SDG progress.
Also addressing the ceremony, Director, Policy Analysis and Research within the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Steven Kerr, who represented Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kasan Troupe, described the initiative as a powerful affirmation of the role of youth in shaping Jamaica’s future.
“This initiative is a powerful statement about who we are as a nation and who we aspire to become. It affirms that the voices of our young people are not only valued but essential to Jamaica’s development journey,” Dr. Troupe said.
She noted that as Jamaica prepares its third VNR for presentation to the United Nations in July, the contributions of young people will help ensure that the report reflects not only policy and data but also the lived experiences and aspirations of citizens.
“What we have witnessed is not simply participation but ownership,” she added, encouraging students to continue contributing to national and global conversations.
Chief Executive Officer of eLearning Jamaica Company Limited, Andrew Lee, praised the high quality of submissions and underscored the role of technology in supporting education.
“We must appreciate how our students are using their ideas and creativity through art to express the world they want to live in,” he said.
Mr. Lee outlined several initiatives undertaken by the agency, including the upgrading of all high-school laboratories and the distribution of more than 11,000 laptops to nearly 600 primary schools.
He noted that these efforts are aimed at equipping students with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and innovation-driven environment.
Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr. Wayne Henry, said the competition forms part of efforts to deepen youth engagement in sustainable development.
“When we launched [this competition], we wanted to do more than inform our young people about the SDGs…We wanted to see Jamaica’s sustainable future through their eyes,” he said.
Dr. Henry emphasised that the winning artwork will be featured on the cover of Jamaica’s VNR report, giving young Jamaicans a visible role on the international stage, adding that, “this is Jamaica tangibly demonstrating our commitment to inclusive development.”
The competition invited students to submit visual art and written pieces reflecting themes such as climate action, education, poverty reduction and innovation.
The initiative not only showcased talent but also highlighted the importance of youth participation in shaping policies and strategies for sustainable national growth.
