Foresee Foundation Co-Hosts Regional Webinar and Networking Session to Strengthen Youth Engagement in NGOs

A regional webinar and networking session held onMarch 25, 2026 at the Foresee Foundation office, brought together youth andnonprofit organizations from across the Caribbean to explore practicalstrategies for strengthening youth engagement in community initiatives. Theevent, part of a broader inter-island effort supported by Oranje Fonds andStichting Kinderpostzegels, combined virtual knowledge-sharing with in-persondialogue to bridge ideas and action.

Following the inter-island webinar entitled EngagingYouth in NGOs: Why, What and How, an in-person local follow-up session wasorganized to translate the shared insights into the local St. Maarten context.The session brought together a mixed group of youth (under 29) andrepresentatives from NGOs and community organizations, with the majority ofparticipants attending in an organizational capacity. The overall aim was tofacilitate dialogue between youth and organizations, reflect on the relevanceof the webinar content, identify barriers to youth engagement, and exploreopportunities for collaboration and follow-up actions.

Through interactive discussions and activities, theparticipants discussed key topics under the theme of youth volunteerism. Forthe core activity of the evening, youth and organizations were split up intogroups to discuss the barriers to youth volunteerism. From the perspectives ofthe youth, they highlighted practical and motivational challenges, includinglong hours, lack of recognition, limited structure, transportation issues, andconflicts with school schedules. These insights underscored the need forflexible, meaningful, and well-organized volunteer opportunities.

Organizations, on the other hand, reflected oninternal constraints such as limited capacity, lack of trained staff, unclearstructures, and difficulty understanding youth needs. They recognized thatimproving youth engagement requires stronger internal systems and bettersupport mechanisms.

When both groups reconvened, shared challengesemerged, including limited access to schools, ineffective outreach channels,and participation barriers such as financial pressures, transportation, andcompeting responsibilities. Participants suggested alternative strategies likeusing peer outreach, influencers, and school-based programs to better connectwith youth.

The final activity was a “marketplace” exercisethat allowed youth and organizations to exchange skills, needs, andopportunities using a structured matching activity. This resulted in activenetworking and the formation of potential partnerships.

This webinar and networking session represents animportant step toward facilitating dialogue between youth and civil society,fostering meaningful connections and paving the way for a more engaged andempowered generation of young changemakers.

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