Nearly 200 young leaders from across the Caribbean gathered in Antigua and Barbuda this week as the Rotaract Club of Antigua hosted the 2026 Rotaract District 7030 Conference — marking the flagship event's return to the island for the first time in more than two decades.
Held under the theme "Linked in Wadadli," the four-day conference brought together delegates from more than a dozen Caribbean territories, including Barbados, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The conference centred on leadership development, regional collaboration, service, and fellowship. Delegates attended presentations covering a range of topics, including artificial intelligence, ethical leadership, sustainability, career development, and building global networks.
Participants also extended their efforts beyond the conference sessions to give back to the local community. Delegates donated sanitary products to address period poverty, with supplies presented to Mount St. John's Medical Centre and Scrub Life Cares.
The Rotaract Club of Antigua marked the occasion with the unveiling of a Peace Pole at Mount St. John's Medical Centre, bearing the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" — a lasting symbol of Rotary's commitment to peace and goodwill.
The conference concluded with a Great Gatsby-themed awards ceremony celebrating outstanding clubs, projects, and individual Rotaractors from across District 7030.
Organisers thanked the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, corporate sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and delegates for contributing to the event's success. They said the conference strengthened regional friendships and reaffirmed the commitment of Caribbean youth to leadership, service, and creating positive change throughout the region.
