Antigua and Barbuda

Profile:

Kareem's volunteer and youth work began in the Caribbean Young Leaders Association while she was still at school.  She has been involved with the Girls Brigade, the 4 H Club and in Community Based Volunteer Group, including as Charter Secretary of the Circle K Club International, Antigua, which is the Youth Arm of Kiwanis International. In fact, she lists her interests as Volunteering and the Literary Arts.  She is employed as an Information Technology & Publishing Administrator in the private sector. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree (Bsc) in Management Studies at the University of The West Indies.

In Kareem's view, young people 'already baffled by our purpose in life often lose confidence in our right to belong" and finishes off the well-known words of the Desiderata, "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  Whether or not it is clear to you…" with "your purpose is already ordained". She takes objection to the broken cliché that "youth are our future" that rings out in every youth oriented forum.  Essentially she thinks in saying so, people place emphasis on a far-distant future.  She feels, however, that the future is NOW, and that young people must be engaged and embraced now if society is to survive.

Kareem is a member of the Core national Group responsible for the drafting of Antigua's National Youth Policy.

Contact:

Ms. Kareem O J Payne
Freetown Village, St Phillip’s Parish,  St John’s,  Antigua
Tel # 268 460 4290-5 (w)  268 560 0122 (home)
Fax # 268 460 4299
Email: rycantigua@cypcaribbean.org
Second Email: kpayne@candw.ag

Alternate : Mr. Jameel Lee
Email : exousia4life@yahoo.com