A single-day fundraising effort during International Women's Day celebrations has raised over EC$1,200 for Youth Arise, a local charity led by a young Antiguan woman committed to community service. According to Antigua Observer, the IWD Piggy Bank Initiative was organized as part of the Young Women in Leadership (YWiL) programme's International Women's Day activities, demonstrating both the power of collective giving and the growing influence of youth-led philanthropy in Antigua and Barbuda.
Youth Arise was founded by Makiba Ward, a participant in the 2026 YWiL cohort. The fundraiser served as a fitting tribute to the values the programme seeks to instill in its participants — leadership, civic responsibility, and service to others.
The initiative coincided with the conclusion of YWiL's eight-week Mentorship Programme, marking a significant milestone for the young women who participated in the initiative. As reported by Antigua Observer, the Piggy Bank drive brought together supporters who contributed to the cause throughout the course of a single day, ultimately surpassing EC$1,200 in donations for the fledgling charity.
The success of the fundraiser underscores the impact that structured mentorship and leadership programmes can have on young women in the Caribbean, empowering them not only to develop personally but also to give back meaningfully to their communities.
