Jamaican entrepreneur and domestic violence advocate Tracey-Ann Harriage has been announced as the regional winner of The Prince’s Trust Global Award.

Prince’s Trust International was founded by King Charles III, the former Prince of Wales, to tackle the global crisis of youth unemployment. In the Caribbean, the organisation delivers programmes with local partners in Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Celebrating the outstanding achievements of a young person on a Prince’s Trust programme in the Caribbean, the award to inspirational young people who have used the knowledge learnt in the programme to contributed to the building of their country.

Harriage runs two social enterprises supporting women fleeing domestic violence and young people. Having completed Explore Enterprise, Prince’s Trust International’s entrepreneurship programme, she secured four new grants, enabling her to reach 3,000 more people and recruit four new employees – all women previously affected by domestic violence.

The young advocate received her award this week during a reception with Prince’s Trust International at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Jamaica.

“Before, I was clueless about how to get funding and be sustainable,” said Harriage. “This programme has been a phenomenal journey. I want to say thank you, but thank you is not even the word for what I feel”.

In 2017, the entrepreneur set up i-SEEED, a community club that supports young people to reach their potential, whatever their circumstances. She then founded her second organisation, Get Out Alive World, in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns saw domestic violence surge.

With first-hand experience of both domestic violence and early parenthood at the age of 14, Harriage said she was driven by a strong personal commitment to both these causes.

“Don’t give up on persons, sometimes all they want is a second chance and once we provide that, I believe that miracles will happen,” she says. “I am a living testimony that miracles can happen”.

In 2022, Harriage took part in the Explore Enterprise programme, delivered in partnership with Prince’s Trust International and Jamaica Youth Business Trust. The programme empowers young entrepreneurs, whatever stage they are at, to build and grow their business and gave her the tips, tools and know how to strengthen her finances and scale up her services.

Speaking at the reception, Judith Slater, British High Commissioner to Jamaica said she it has been an incredible journey working with stakelholders from the United Kingdom and Jamaica to help young people succeed.

“Hearing from young women like Tracey-Ann has been a real highlight – her achievements are an inspiration to us all. I look forward to seeing many more young people supported through Prince’s Trust International’s work with partners in Jamaica,” said Slater.

Echoing the same sentiments was Will Straw, Chief Executive of Prince’s Trust International who added: “I am thrilled for Tracey-Ann, a young woman who is having a hugely positive impact on her community. It is more important than ever that we are united in support for those like Tracey-Ann as they build their own futures.”

He continued: “Our partnership model brings in local expertise to ensure that young people in Jamaica can access the tailored support they need. Looking ahead, we are strengthening our programmatic delivery to support many more young people across the country into meaningful and sustainable work”.

In a rapidly changing world, Prince’s Trust International works with local partners to deliver education, employment, and enterprise programmes. Since 2015, the organisation has empowered over 70,000 young people to learn, earn and thrive. Prince’s Trust International has been working in Jamaica since 2019 with programmes focused on helping young people to re-engage with their education and find meaningful employment, and supporting them to explore entrepreneurship.

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