The Barbados Youth Development Council (BYDC) is the National Youth Council of Barbados and the Umbrella Organisation of all youth organisations existing locally. The Council is the oldest National Youth Council in the region and is the fourth oldest National Youth Council in the world. Established in 1969, it was born out of a vision to create a platform for young people to have a voice in the development of Barbados.
The Council for over 50 years has been advocating for and addressing the needs of and facilitating the development of all young people in Barbados by harnessing their talents, and creating empowering programs, and initiatives. Further, establishing strategic alliances with the government(s), private sector, civil society organisations, and international organisations.
The Council is mandated to conduct research and document areas of interest and concern, to further disseminate such findings by pursuing an enthusiastic plan of action to support and implement programs consistent with such findings. The BYDC develops plans of action to embrace all aspects of individual and total community development by nurturing the spiritual, moral, socio/cultural, educational, and physical development of all young people in Barbados. The BYDC is guided by its motto of “Building Youth, Developing Country” and serves as its guiding light.
