PHILILPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Forum will take place under the general theme “Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet”, focusing on how young women and men, as global citizens, can contribute to building sustainability,from the global to the local level, explained Ms. Marcellia Henry, Secretary General for Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO.
The selection of the youth representatives is a joint venture with the Youth Department within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports. The St. Maarten Youth Council also assisted with selection process. This is the second time youth from St. Maarten will be participating in the UNESCO Youth Forum since becoming an Associate Member of UNESCO in 2011.
Ms. Marjorie Cortico Ramirez is a graduate of the University of St. Martin, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. She is presently an elementary school teacher at the St. Joseph School (Catholic School board). She is a member of the St. Maarten Leo Club, and volunteers at the Center for Catechesis. Ms. Cortico Ramirez is also an award winning Leeward Islands past debater of the Hyacinth Richardson Education & Awareness Foundation, and represented St. Maarten during her high school years, but now volunteers to assist others.
Mr. Ralph Cantave is currently studying General Liberal Arts at USM with the intention to major in Communications, History and minor in Political Science. He aspires to be a journalist, writer, and politician. He is a writer for the Teen Times newspaper for the past 3 years, he volunteers at the UJIMA Foundation. Mr. Cantave recently was selected to represent St. Maarten at an UNESCO Youth Heritage Workshop in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Pictures of Ms. Marjorie Cortico Ramirez and Mr. Ralph Cantave
