Barbados is launching a nationwide push to build a new generation of community-focused leaders, as the President’s Trust has opened applications for volunteer mentors to support its upcoming transformative youth initiative, the Chapman Challenge. Scheduled for an official launch on September 23 under the patronage of President Jeffrey Bostic, the program targets young people between the ages of 10 and 24, centering its approach on three core pillars: community engagement, hands-on service, and structured leadership skill-building.
Organizers are actively recruiting committed volunteers from every sector of Barbadian society, ranging from educators, civil servants and skilled tradespeople to retirees and local entrepreneurs. These volunteers will step into the role of “support anchors”, providing consistent, positive guidance to young participants across the island. Captain Tevin Maynard, a spokesperson for the initiative’s Mentorship Task Force, emphasized the irreplaceable role that positive adult role models play in strengthening local communities during the announcement of the recruitment drive.
“Every young person has the right to access encouraging guidance, meaningful encouragement, and life-changing opportunities,” Maynard stated. “When adults choose to serve as mentors, they do more than change the trajectory of individual young lives – they lay the groundwork for more connected, resilient communities across Barbados, and a stronger nation overall. The Chapman Challenge gives every citizen, regardless of which parish they call home or what profession they work in, the chance to build a lasting, positive legacy through dedicated service.”
The initiative operates through a structured, community-rooted matching system: local municipal councillors first identify young people who stand to benefit most from the program, then pair each participant with a trained volunteer support anchor. Mentors take on a range of responsibilities, from offering one-on-one personalized advice and leading interactive group skill-building activities to arranging hands-on workplace exposure and providing ongoing virtual support between in-person sessions.
Unlike many youth development programs that prioritize only academic achievement, the Chapman Challenge centers on holistic growth. Its core goals include fostering strong personal character, building practical life and leadership competencies, cultivating a sense of civic responsibility, and empowering young people to step into active leadership roles within their own communities through sustained service work.
Organizers have underscored that the entire initiative is run on a volunteer basis, and operates under a strict, comprehensive safeguarding framework designed to protect all participants. Every successful volunteer applicant must complete a mandatory background check and undergo thorough training before starting their mentorship role, ensuring the program maintains a safe, supportive environment for every young person involved.
By connecting experienced adults with motivated young people across its early stages, the Chapman Challenge aims to build a long-term, sustainable pipeline of civically engaged leaders who will contribute to Barbados for decades to come. Any resident of Barbados who is interested in volunteering their time, skills, and expertise as a mentor is invited to contact the President’s Trust through its official communication channels to learn more and apply.