This summer, two pioneering tenth-grade students — Kianna Rolle and Gabryel Saunders — made history as The Bahamas’ first Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Ambassadors. For eight weeks, they stepped out of their classrooms and into the heart of disaster preparedness, proving that young people are not only the future of resilience — they are its present.
The Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Ambassador Programme (DRRYA) is a flagship initiative of the DRM Authority designed to empower young Bahamians as advocates and leaders in disaster preparedness. Through hands-on training, public engagement, and mentorship, the program cultivates youth who are ready to mobilise their schools, families, and communities toward a safer, more resilient future.
Across their internship, Kianna and Gabryel chronicled their experiences in a Legacy Scroll — a creative record that will be passed down to every new generation of Ambassadors. Their journey was filled with discovery, service, and impact. From orientation and confidence building to meeting Her Excellency Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt at Government House, the Ambassadors quickly stepped into their leadership roles. They explored the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, created environmental poetry with BREEF, and honoured Independence by reflecting on volunteerism — reminding their peers that “service is not just an activity; it is a legacy.”
They also presented youth-led strategies for engaging peers in national resilience, including mapping disaster-impacted neighbourhoods. Along the way, they gained practical skills — fire safety with the RBDF, self-defence with the police, and disaster preparedness through an educational game they designed called Prepopoly. As their internship advanced, the pair developed school programs for the upcoming academic year and joined UNICEF sessions on children’s rights in humanitarian crises. In their final week, they sat in on emergency preparedness meetings for Hurricane Erin, gaining behind-the-scenes insight into inter-agency coordination and the critical importance of fighting misinformation.
Through laughter, challenges, and growth, the Ambassadors left behind a powerful legacy: “We were the first, bold, bright, unshaken… Youth with fire, a new path taken” (Legacy Poem, p.13). Their journey has shown that young Bahamians can take the lead in resilience — speaking up, stepping forward, and inspiring others.
As Kianna and Gabryel signed off in their scroll — “Good luck, new ambassadors” — they handed the torch to the next generation. The DRRYA Programme will continue to grow, year by year, with each Ambassador leaving their mark and strengthening our collective resilience.
The DRM Authority celebrates these trailblazing Ambassadors. Their voices remind us that resilience is not built in isolation — it is built when young people are empowered to lead.
