AN inspirational young woman was recently announced as the regional winner of The Prince’s Trust Global Award, which celebrates the outstanding achievements of a young person on a Prince’s Trust programme in the Caribbean. The award was given to Tracey-Ann Harriage during a reception with Prince’s Trust International at the British high commissioner’s residence recently.

Prince’s Trust International was founded by King Charles III to tackle the global crisis of youth unemployment. In the Caribbean, the organisation delivers programmes with local partners in Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2017 Harriage set up i-SEEED, a community club that supports young people to reach their potential, whatever their circumstances, and despite high neighbourhood rates of unemployment, crime, and early parenthood. She founded her second organisation, Get Out Alive World in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns saw domestic violence surge.

Harriage is driven by a strong personal commitment to both these causes, with first-hand experience of both domestic violence and early parenthood — she was just 14 when she became a mother.

“Don’t give up on people, sometimes all they want is a second chance, and once we provide that I believe that miracles will happen,” she said. “I am a living testimony that miracles can happen.”

In 2022 she took part in the Explore Enterprise programme, delivered in partnership with Prince’s Trust International and Jamaica Youth Business Trust. The programme empowers young entrepreneurs, at whatever stage they are, to build and grow their businesses. It has given her the tips, tools, and know-how to strengthen her finances and scale up her services.

With sound finances, Harriage’s organisations can continue to serve their community for many years to come. After securing four new grants in 2022/23, the organisations have been able to expand to reach 3,000 more people, and she has taken on four new employees — all women previously affected by domestic violence.

“Before, I was clueless about how to get funding and be sustainable,” she explained. “This programme has been a phenomenal journey. I want to say thank you, but thank you is not even the word for what I feel.”

Prince’s Trust International works with local partners to deliver education, employment, and enterprise programmes. Since 2015 the organisation has empowered over 70,000 young people to learn, earn, and thrive. Prince’s Trust International has been working in Jamaica since 2019 with programmes focused on helping young people to re-engage with their education and find meaningful employment and supporting them to explore entrepreneurship.

“It has been fantastic to come together with stakeholders from the United Kingdom and Jamaica with the common goal of helping young people to succeed,” said Judith Slater, British high commissioner to Jamaica.

“Hearing from young women like Tracey-Ann today has been a real highlight. Her achievements are an inspiration to us all. I look forward to seeing many more young people supported through Prince’s Trust International’s work with partners in Jamaica.”

Added Will Straw, chief executive of Prince’s Trust International: “I am thrilled for Tracey-Ann, a young woman who is having a hugely positive impact on her community. It is more important than ever that we are united in support for those like Tracey-Ann as they build their own futures.

“Our partnership model brings in local expertise to ensure that young people in Jamaica can access the tailored support they need. Looking ahead, we are strengthening our programmatic delivery to support many more young people across the country into meaningful and sustainable work.”