47
Here’s what they
said :
“Racial inequality is a factor, as far as our
professional development and socioeconomic
advancement is concerned, because marginalised
groups are always starting 50-100 to 400 years
behind dominant groups in society.” “Got my education but I’m
catching my tail to find a job in
my field of study or anything
remotely close to it.”
Anna, 22 Akeem, 26
“The cost of education is rising and the more
educated the population becomes, the less
value a degree has. There is also no guarantee
that after you complete this education you
can find a job in this current job market. As a
result, some unemployed youths have turned
to crime as a way to support themselves.”
Akil, 34
“This generation seems to think that hard
work is not required at all levels and that
their reality is due to their circumstances
and environment, and not their own thinking
and doing. You are what you fight for.”
“Cost of living is constantly rising. A lot of
persons in their late 20s and early 30s can
not afford to move out of their parents’
homes and start their own families.”
Jason, 33
Caleb, 30
“The older generation isn't willing to invest
in us, our innovation nor our talent”
Camilla, 21
“Despite access to technology,
education and employment
opportunities. Some classes,
races and genders still have
to work significantly harder
for upward mobility and
remuneration than their peers”
“As children, we were told to go to school and
learn well and we would be successful. And this
was true of our parents' generation, partly because
of the economic climate of that time. Now,
you can leave university with honours, obtain a
masters and still struggle financially. The world
has changed and the same rules do not apply —
and this fact can work against us... or for us.”
“Much of the frustration of millennials is
that of broken economic promises. As we
continue to measure success by wealth,
and as wealth concentrates in the upper
1%, frustration continues to mount”
Christina, 24
“As sad as it sounds, our existence
is largely dictated by our personal
finances: the less you have, the more
likely it is that life will be tough. With
the rise in taxes (while salaries remain
the same) people are finding it difficult
to maintain their lifestyles or even
aspire to live more comfortably.”
Sean, 30
Shanice, 29
“We already have limited
opportunities which is bad but
what's worse is that we are
judged by the number of years
accrued rather than our skillset
and potential. In Barbados, it's a
no-no being under 30
and a manager.”
Rico, 21
“As a small island nation with a disproportionate
population, educated millennials are seeking high
profile jobs which forces them to look outside of
the island. This road is difficult and removes an
educated generation from the island's resources.
Climate change brings with it intense natural
disasters which upset the economic balance.”
Justin, 26
“I chose the option of political corruption as
the biggest problem. This is due to the fact
that I genuinely think millennials are more
than equipped to tackle the problems they see
in society. However, the political bureaucracy
and management systems/legal systems
within our country continue to stifle us.”
Crystal, 23
Danielle, 33
THE SENSES ISSUE