THE Jamaica chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) will defend its reputation as renowned debaters when the team travels to Columbia from May 3-6 for the Conference of the Americas.

“In this room right here … we are currently the two-time defending regional champions for the debating championships of the Americas. We won in Panama in 2021 and we won again last year in Curacao. This year we are heading off to Santa Marta, Columbia, and we are hoping that we will retain the title,” JCI’s national President Odell Marsh said during a recent courtesy call with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.

“That would take us to go to Zurich in Switzerland in November to, once again, attempt to take home the world title,” added Marsh.

The team placed second globally in 2021 and went to the semi-finals in 2022.

During the meeting held at King’s house, which formed part of JCI’s rebranding strategy, the group touched on a lot more than the upcoming contest, reaffirming a commitment to improving their country.

“We are a bunch of young people who are eager and energised about what we can do to transform Jamaica,” said Marsh, who has been a member since 2014.

The four key areas of the JCI are individual development through training; business and entrepreneurial development, such as the Creative Young Entrepreneur Programme; community action through different projects; and international collaboration through conferences, congresses, and seminars.

“[For] the Creative Young Entrepreneur Programme, we look at inviting young entrepreneurs in various creative sectors to submit their ideas in an opportunity to win some seed funding. But it doesn’t end there. When you win locally, you then advance to the regional competition, and if you win there, you go to the global competition,” Marsh explained.

He drew parallels between the work done by the JCI and King’s House, such as the Governor General’s Programme for Excellence.

“We have a similar programme known as the Ten Outstanding Persons, chosen from 10 categories … Those 10 winners locally will then be able to compete internationally to be crowned … So we are looking to see the partnership that can be gained with your office to help to promote the work that we are doing,” Marsh told Sir Patrick.

For his part, the governor general recalled the vibrant partnership that his office and the JCI shared in the past and pledged renewed collaboration going forward.

“I think it would be good if the leadership, both of the GGPE [Governor General’s Programme for Excellence] and the Junior Chamber look at ways in which we can collaborate, ways in which we can support each other in carrying out the mandate — which there is a common element in that — because we are dealing with youth and the challenges of youth, and seeking to put them on a path to success. I think we have those common goals.

The purpose of the Governor General’s Programme for Excellence is basically to deal with parenting, youth, and education,” Sir Patrick explained.

Some of the projects done by JCI Jamaica include the Best Care Special Education School in Kingston, the Rock Hall Early Childhood Education Centre in St Andrew, and the Orchard Sports Complex in Hopewell, Hanover.

The organisation is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 40.