During his Remarks at the Official Launch of National Youth Month (October), and BeInspired Pop-Up, on September 26, 2026, Minister of Youth and Sports the Hon. Mario Bowleg stated that the day was more than the beginning of a month of activities.
“It is a celebration of the talent, creativity, ambition, resilience, and potential of the young people of The Bahamas,” he said at the event held at St. John’s College.
He added: “This year, our National Youth Month theme is ‘Voice to Vision’. Those three words speak directly to what we want for our young people. We want them to know that their voices matter. Their ideas matter. Their dreams matter. Their perspectives matter.”
Among those present were Head of the Ministry’s Youth Division Sandena Neely and her staff, youth leaders and various stakeholders. The Mario Bowleg K. Bowleg Basketball Invitational Showcase also took place there that day.
Minister Bowleg noted that his Ministry recognized that young people having a voice was only the beginning.
“As a Ministry, we must help create the opportunities, resources, partnerships, and spaces that allow our young people to take their ideas and transform them into something tangible,” he stated.
He added: “We want to help them move from simply saying, ‘This is what I would like to do’, to confidently saying, ‘Look at what I have accomplished’. That is what it means to move from Voice to Vision.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports remains committed to ensuring that young Bahamians are not simply invited into spaces, but are given opportunities to create, lead, innovate, participate, and thrive within those spaces.”
Minister Bowleg pointed out that the BeInspired Programme was “an excellent example of that commitment”.
“Through BeInspired, we are investing in young Bahamian entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 and helping them turn business ideas into viable opportunities,” he said.
“Through training, mentorship, partnerships, and access to grant funding, we are encouraging young people to see entrepreneurship not simply as a dream, but as a real pathway toward economic empowerment,” Minister Bowleg added.
He pointed out that the BeInspired Pop-Up brought that vision to life.
“Some of the young entrepreneurs you see here today once had only an idea,” Minister Bowleg said.
He added: “Today, they have businesses. They have products. They have services. They have customers. And, most importantly, they have a platform where they can proudly say, ‘This is what I created’.”
Minister Bowleg stated that that was exactly what his Ministry wanted to see more of throughout The Bahamas.
He said: “We want young people in New Providence and throughout our Family Islands to know that there is room for their ideas. There is room for their creativity. There is room for their businesses, their leadership, and their voices.”
“Our responsibility is to continue building those rooms – and when necessary, creating entirely new ones,” Minister Bowleg added.
He pointed out that National Youth Month gives his Ministry another opportunity to do just that.
“Throughout this month, we will celebrate young people, but we will also listen to them,” Minister Bowleg said.
He added: “We will engage them. We will provide opportunities for them to connect, learn, lead, showcase their talents, and contribute to the continued development of our country.”
Minister Bowleg continued: “To every young person here today: use your voice. Tell us what you see. Tell us what you need. Tell us what you want to build. Bring your ideas forward, and then be prepared to put in the work required to turn those ideas into reality. Your voice can become a plan. Your plan can become an opportunity. And your opportunity can become a vision realized.”
He thanked the Ministry’s “partners, youth organizations, entrepreneurs, vendors, parents, Ministry staff, and everyone who has contributed to making today possible”.
“Creating opportunities for young people requires all of us working together,” Minister Bowleg said.
“As we officially launch National Youth Month 2026, I encourage everyone to enjoy today’s activities, support our BeInspired entrepreneurs, connect with our youth organizations, engage in the activities throughout the campus, and most importantly, celebrate the incredible potential of Bahamian youth,” he added. “May this National Youth Month remind every young person across our islands that your voice has value, your ideas have power, and your vision has a place in the future of The Bahamas.
“Together, let us continue creating the spaces and opportunities that move our young people from Voice to Vision.”
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