GSIS 2025 - A Reflection by Brianné Chapman
As a proud member of Island Girls Rock and a participant in their Ocean Stewardship programme in partnership with Adopt-A-Coastline, I was honoured to represent Nevis at the recently held Global Sustainable Islands Summit - Island Youth Forum. I've always been passionate about protecting our natural environment. I truly believe that when the environment is clean and thriving, so are we.
When I first heard about the forum, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what I did know was that I was eager and ready to learn. I started researching to better understand the topics we might cover and to prepare myself as best I could. As someone who embraces the joy and responsibility of being a young island woman, I came to the forum with many questions: about sustainability, identity, and how we can make a difference.
Our islands are more than just beautiful; they are resilient, complex, and alive.
Although I was only able to attend for one day, that single day was filled with powerful insights and moments that deeply moved me. Hearing other young people share their stories and experiences opened my eyes to the challenges and successes across our neighboring islands. The impact of COVID-19 was felt by all, yet it also highlighted the strength and creativity of islanders who continued to push forward with hope and determination.
I was especially inspired by the innovative solutions shared from different countries. Such being a Grenadian young lady who’s aunt turned sargassum seaweed into something useful, a young guy from Trinidad that has a car wash powered by recycled demolition waste, and also how Aruba began relying less on imports by focusing on local food production post-COVID. These stories reminded me that youth are not only the future, we are the present. What was also very interesting to me was eye-opening parts of the forum when learning about environmental mapping and how renewable energy projects, like placing wind turbines must be carefully planned to avoid disrupting marine ecosystems, especially sensitive areas like fish nurseries. It reminded me just how important it is to combine technology, and local knowledge when making environmental decisions.
Sitting in a room filled with passionate young voices from across the region hearing our different accents blending together made me feel connected and empowered. What stood out the most was the powerful influence we hold as young people. We discussed youth-focused policies and the barriers many of us face: limited political influence, lack of funding, inaccessible data, and policy language that feels disconnected from our communities.
But we were also encouraged to be co-creators of change. We were reminded to use inclusive language, simplify messages without losing meaning, be creative through art and technology, and ground our work in credible science and real stories. We were urged to connect local action with global movements.
This experience reignited a dream I've held for a long time: to create a community vegetable garden at every community center on Nevis. These gardens would not only support environmental health, but also provide local, fresh food for all, encouraging healthier lifestyles, stronger communities, and a deeper connection to our land.
The Island Youth Forum was more than just an event, it was a call to action. And I’m ready to answer it.
- Brianné