Girls aged 12 to 17 gathered at Hodges Bay Resort & Spa on Wednesday to confront some of the most pressing issues facing their generation, as the Ricardo Barriteau Drue Foundation hosted a mentorship workshop tackling bullying, self-esteem, gang violence and sexuality. According to Antigua.news, the event drew a notable lineup of speakers and community figures for a full day of programming.
The workshop, titled "I am, I will," was held under the patronage of the Halo Foundation and featured speakers from Team Antigua Island Girls, members of the Royal Police Force, senators, and Her Excellency Lady Williams, wife of the Governor General.
Nicola Barriteau, mother of the foundation's namesake, the late Ricardo Drue — who died on December 12, 2023 — said the workshop was designed to affirm the value of young women during a particularly vulnerable stage of life.
"We know that this time is a difficult time for them, hormones are raging, their perception of life is different, social media is a killer," Barriteau said. "We really just wanted to address some of those important and urgent issues with them today."
She said the broader aim was to send a clear message to every participant. "Ensuring that young women in Antigua and Barbuda and across the region understand that they are important, they are enough and they can be whatever they want to be," she said.
The foundation was established in 2023 to carry forward a vision Ricardo Drue held before his death — creating pathways for young people to pursue arts and entertainment regardless of their financial means.
"Not everyone is able to afford the lessons or training for their children," Barriteau said. "So the foundation was formed to give children in Antigua and Barbuda, and by extension we can move across the region, a home where they can apply their trade, hone their skills and embrace arts and entertainment."
Wednesday's workshop is the latest in a growing series of foundation programmes. Earlier in 2025, the foundation hosted a workshop for boys addressing crime and gang violence, which featured two formerly incarcerated men speaking candidly about the realities of a life of crime. A 2024 series of "legacy workshops" connected young people with figures from the arts and entertainment world.
Looking ahead, Barriteau said securing a permanent centre for arts, entertainment and empowerment programming is the foundation's next major goal. "Instead of us going to them, they can come to us and we embrace it," she said.
Those interested in donating or getting involved can contact the foundation at [email protected]. The nonprofit says it remains committed to realising Ricardo Drue's vision through the Ricardo Barriteau Drue Foundation for Arts, Entertainment, Innovation, and Empowerment, headquartered in Antigua and Barbuda.
