At the 2025 Enrique García Leadership Award ceremony, three young visionaries distinguished themselves among six finalists representing Latin America and the Caribbean. Two Caribbean entrepreneurs, Kerri-Ann Bovell from Barbados and Nicholas Kee from Jamaica, received “Special Mention” honors for their innovative, socially-oriented projects that positively impact their local communities.
The Enrique García Leadership Award, according to a press release, was created by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022, to honor exceptional young leaders from its member countries who advance sustainable development, environmental protection, and social progress. Annually, the award emphasizes a specific theme aligned with CAF’s strategic goals of promoting inclusion, equity, and innovation.
This year’s edition centered on social entrepreneurship, highlighting young leaders employing inventive and sustainable business models to address urgent social and environmental issues.
Peruvian candidate José Adolfo Quisocala was awarded the prize for his initiative that promotes financial literacy and inclusion among children and youth through experiential learning methods. His project utilizes solid waste as ‘Eco Moneda’ or Eco Currency to encourage savings and entrepreneurial activity, aiming to alleviate poverty within his community.
Kerri-Ann Bovell’s project, EcoMyco, addresses two significant environmental concerns in Barbados and the wider Caribbean: the proliferation of Sargassum seaweed and agricultural waste, along with the region’s dependency on plastics. Developed in 2019 during her studies at The University of the West Indies, EcoMyco converts Sargassum and agricultural byproducts like cassava peels into biodegradable materials suitable for agricultural, cosmetic, and furniture industries.
Among its innovations are the Caribbean’s first weed barrier prototype made from these sustainable materials, offering a biodegradable alternative to plastic mulch for farmers. Additionally, EcoMyco has pioneered the creation of compressed Sargassum boards used in bespoke furniture and interior fixtures, which are durable, water-resistant, and cost-effective.
Nicholas Kee’s Kee Farms Foundation, established by the Jamaican entrepreneur, centers on aquaculture as a means to achieve climate justice. Founded in 2020 as an ocean farm and network in Jamaica, the initiative focuses on carbon sequestration through seaweed and oyster farming and restoring marine habitats. After acquiring the operation in early 2024, Kee transitioned its charitable activities into the non-profit Kee Farms Foundation, which aims to deliver ocean-based solutions that restore biodiversity, support fisherfolk livelihoods, and bolster coastal resilience.
The Foundation currently trains fisherfolk in sustainable ocean farming, pilots seaweed cultivation for environmental and commercial purposes, and collaborates with marine sanctuaries to expand community-led regenerative aquaculture across the Caribbean. Kee aims to increase incomes for 4,000 fisherfolk by 2030, improve biodiversity in farm areas by 15 percent, and sequester 1.8 million tonnes of carbon.
Expressing pride in his achievement, Bovell commented,“ Being selected for the Enrique García Leadership Award fills me with profound gratitude and underscores my lifelong dedication to Caribbean-centered innovation… This recognition propels my vision to accelerate transformational, positive change in the Caribbean scientific landscape.”
Another Caribbean finalist was Dareem Jeffrey from Trinidad and Tobago, recognized for his Ecowash project—the first water-efficient car wash service in the Caribbean, using just two liters of water per vehicle and powered by solar energy.
CAF’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, expressed her enthusiasm: “It brings me great personal joy to see our young people taking the lead in innovation and climate action. Now more than ever, we need our young leaders to be at the forefront of securing a resilient future for the Caribbean, and CAF is proud to support initiatives that recognise and motivate them.
“CAF currently has six shareholder countries in the English-speaking Caribbean, with several more at various stages of our incorporation process. My hope is that this award serves as a platform to inspire more young people from the Caribbean to pursue resilient, climate-focused, and sustainable initiatives. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists, special mention awardees and this year’s winner,” she continued.
Barbados’ Ashley Lashley, founder of the Ashley Lashley Foundation also received a Special Mention in 2023, for her dedication to youth empowerment. Ms. Lashley was recently appointed to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
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