Youth Participation in the Energy Sector Is Vital

Tamaira Rowe

Published on September 29, 2023

As an engineer–agronomist with a concentration in natural resources and environment, I’ve always been fascinated by the energy sector. That’s why I was excited to come across the Internship Programme in Energy Data Collection with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE). The opportunity promised to provide me with valuable insights into Haiti’s energy sector as well as the broader trends and challenges the Caribbean’s energy sector faces. I was eager to learn as much as I could and contribute my skills and knowledge to this important field.

During my internship with CCREEE I gained hands-on experience and applied what I was practising to what I was learning in my environmental and energy management master’s programme. I found the experience to be incredibly enriching because I not only learned more about energy but also met professionals in Haiti’s energy sector. Additionally, I was able to connect with other interns from various Caribbean countries and exchange insights. I am grateful for the guidance of my supervisor, Mr Jean-Mackson Beralus.

Although the internship was rewarding, there were challenges. Even though some institutions were helpful and provided information readily, others were less forthcoming, and I sometimes had to rely on my personal network to get the data I needed.

The CCREEE internship was not my first experience working in the energy sector. I had the opportunity to delve deeply into the energy sector in Haiti through my work monitoring the Improved Cooking Technology Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This programme aimed to assist 2,000 households in transitioning from charcoal energy to liquified petroleum gas (LPG). By analysing data on the new LPG users, we determined the number of trees saved per year and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which is critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Apart from energy, I am interested in youth leadership and climate and environmental management, which is why I have been involved in activities in those areas in the Caribbean. As a youth parliamentarian and ambassador of the Caribbean Climate Justice Project, I participated in the Caribbean Youth Parliament on Climate Justice to debate the impact of climate change on biodiversity in the Caribbean. Additionally, I conducted a leadership project, ‘Youths, Biodiversity and Climate Myths’, as a YouthLead ambassador (YouthLead is a programme funded by the USAID and implemented by Making Cents International). At the same time, I focused on renewable energy by conducting a series of training of trainers with the Solidarity Center in Haiti, with the goal of promoting sustainable actions and youth engagement.

Attending the seventh Regional Caribbean Youth Leaders’ Summit in Trinidad and Tobago opened my eyes to the importance of the energy sector in almost all aspects of life. It was encouraging to hear how the CCREEE is promoting youth engagement in decision-making for climate action, recognising that youth have a vital role to play in promoting sustainable actions and adding value to the future.