WYCJ Caribbean

Ashawnté Russell is a PhD candidate in Biology at Utah State University and the Caribbean Front Coordinator for World’s Youth for Climate Justice. Hailing from The Bahamas, she is an environmentalist dedicated to youth empowerment, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, and climate resilience in Caribbean communities. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of The Bahamas, where she built a strong academic foundation in biological and chemical processes across both laboratory and field settings. Her current research will explore the adaptive responses of Bahamian Rock Iguanas to climate stress, bridging ecology and physiology to inform conservation strategies for vulnerable species. Over the past five years, she has advanced the UN Sustainable Development Goals through national, regional, and international initiatives in the space of conservation, policy, and climate justice. She has represented The Bahamas and the Caribbean at COP27, COP28, the UNFCCC Youth4Climate conferences, and the UNESCO Youth Forum, and has also served as EarthDay.org My Future My Voice Youth Ambassador and as the Female Youth Climate Ambassador for The Bahamas (2023–2024).

Email: ashawnte@wy4cj.org

First generation college graduate, Jyade Fritz was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in 2022. Miss Fritz served as the New Providence Island representative of The Bahamas Youth Climate and Environmental Committee for 2023-2024 and an International Climate Youth Delegate for COP28. She has had the privilege of being a Caribbean Urban Form (CUF) 2021 presenter and a Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) 2022 intern. As a former intern at The Bahamas Department of Meteorology in both the Climate and Forecasting Sections, she is now gainfully employed as a Meteorological Officer with hopes of becoming a certified Aeronautical Forecaster. As a climate activist with a focus in meteorology, climate change and disaster risk management, she believes that climate education, youth empowerment and youth inclusion is of the utmost importance.

Email: jyade@wy4cj.org

Raheem is a youth climate and environment leader from the beautiful tri-island state comprising Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. He has been working in the climate change and environmental space for over seven years, engaging at the local, regional, and international levels. Raheem is passionate about youth development and engaging young people to become champions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout his years in advocacy, he has served in leadership roles and co-founded some climate organisations and initiatives locally and in the Caribbean, including 350’s Caribbean Climate Network (CCN), Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Global Youth Biodiversity Network Caribbean chapter and TAMCC Environment and Awareness Movement (T.E.A.M.). Currently, he is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with a minor in Marketing at Monroe University St. Lucia Campus (Online)

Email: raheem@wy4cj.org

Christianne Zakour is an environmental scientist with a passion for improving climate justice in the Caribbean and defending the region against loss and damage. She is active on the Loss and Damage Youth Grantmaking Council and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance. Christianne holds an MSc. in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, and enjoys using the power of coding and engineering principles to research the challenge of climate change.

Email: christianne@wy4cj.org 

Kariel D. Stuart is a Bahamian community organizer with 5–7 years of experience working on climate and youth issues at the local, national, and international levels. She currently serves on The Bahamas’ National Climate Change Committee, where she works to ensure that community voices are heard by policymakers and included in national resilience planning. Previously, she led Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) research with the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), coordinating inputs from partners across the Americas, and managed youth resilience programs in Gainesville, Florida, where she secured over $60,000 in funding across initiatives and expanded services for vulnerable youth. Kariel has also represented The Bahamas at COP26 and other global forums, advocating for stronger Caribbean leadership in climate action.

Email: kariel@wy4cj.org

Alisha Koulen is a passionate youth leader and Operations Manager at STEMGuyana, where she oversees national programs focused on robotics, AI, and digital literacy. With over 6 years of experience in education and youth development, Alisha continues to champion young people, particularly girls—in STEM. She has worked with regional organizations like the Department of Environment, Antigua on data management and climate-related initiatives, including the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) project, and has represented Guyana at global forums such as COP28 and COY18. Her work bridges the gap between climate advocacy and education, empowering underserved communities with the tools to lead and innovate. Alisha is driven by a vision of equity, sustainability, and youth leadership. Through her work, she remains committed to building a future where all children, regardless of background, have access to the knowledge and opportunities they deserve.

Email: alisha@wy4cj.org

Ron Beggs is a self-published author and International Business student at St. George’s University in Grenada, dedicated to youth empowerment, leadership, and climate justice. At SGU, he currently serves as Vice Pro of the Nursing Student Association and has held key leadership roles including Vice President of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Public Relations Officer for the Creative Arts Society, and Student Representative and Program Coordinator for the Business Department. Outside academics, Ron is a former National Youth Parliamentarian, having represented St. Andrew’s Parish in the Youth Parliament and participated in the Caribbean Climate Change Justice Leaders Cohort. As an active member of the Youth Emergency Action Committee and the Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund, Ron supports initiatives in disaster preparedness and sustainable development.

Email: ron@wy4cj.org

Lydia Samuels is a public health researcher and climate justice advocate whose work bridges scholarship, creativity, and activism across global contexts. She is pursuing her Master of Public Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in Population and Family Health, with a certificate in Climate and Health. Lydia’s research has examined the health impacts of climate change in the Caribbean, healthcare access for sickle cell disease patients in Ghana, and the intersections of climate change, mental health, and gender-based violence in urban informal settlements in Kenya. She is also a Rachel Carson Council National Environmental Leadership Fellow and co-produced Upcycled Canvas, a documentary exploring sustainability through visual art in Accra, Ghana. Beyond academia, Lydia serves as a Youth Ambassador with the Archipelagic and Island States Forum and as a National Climate Fellow with Change the Chamber. Her work is driven by a belief that climate justice and health equity are inseparable, and that inclusive action can transform both.

Email: lydia@wy4cj.org