Yanique Mendez leading impactfully from a wheelchair

“I have a physical disability that affects my mobility, and which results in me using a wheelchair. Just to note, while it is a part of who I am, it does not define me or the things I am capable of doing,” Yanique Mendez told The Gleaner.

Earlier this year, she wheeled on to the stage to collect her Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence (PMNYAE) in Leadership from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness himself, on the lawns of Jamaica House.

The awards programme notes about the St Ann native begin with, “Yanique is a dynamic youth leader whose remarkable journey of service, advocacy, and nation-building began in 2019. Despite living with a physical disability, she has emerged as a powerful voice for equity, dignity, and transformation in Jamaica.”

She has initiated various programmes, including mentorship programmes, back-to-school initiatives, and other community-based initiatives, she told The Gleaner. “Through these programmes, I have advanced my advocacy for marginalised and under-served communities and implemented projects that teach young people leadership skills and how to advocate for themselves, regardless of their background. They have afforded me the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the regional and international level,” she explained.

She was a Commonwealth Youth Parliamentarian, a Black Diplomats Academy Fellow, and is one of two CARICOM Single Market and Economy ambassadors representing Jamaica at the CARICOM Secretariat. She was also a National Youth Parliamentarian of Jamaica, and sat on the National Youth Advisory Council and the National Youth Council.

“As a Black Diplomats Academy Fellow in Canada, she earned the Rising Stars in Diplomacy Award and the Candies Kotchapaw Award. A 2024 Governor General’s Achievement awardee and I Believe Initiative ambassador, she continues to inspire others through visionary leadership and unwavering service to her community and country,” the programme notes also say.

PIONEERED INITIATIVES

Mendez, a past president of the St Ann Parish Youth Council, has pioneered initiatives across education, youth development, health and gender equity. Through her foundation, iBloom Jamaica, she has raised over $70,000 to bridge the digital divide for students, and led ‘Period Poverty’ campaigns that have reached over 2,000 women and girls across Jamaica, the programme notes also say.

Mendez’s leadership at the Yadel Home for Girls in Old Harbour, St Catherine has ensured sustained support for vulnerable youths, while her work in the Moneague Police Youth Club has directly impacted unattached youths and undeserved families. And, there is a rationale for her involvement in all of these endeavours.

“Seeing the barriers that young people generally face has inspired me to act. I wanted to create spaces where individuals are seen, heard, and valued, not on the basis of tokenism. In addition, I believe that those who are empowered have a responsibility to empower others through various acts, regardless of how minute they might seem,” she explained.

As for receiving the prestigious national award, she said, “Receiving the PMNYAE is an incredible honour. It feels like a recognition not just of my efforts, but of the potential of all young people who are working to create positive change. It has inspired me to keep pushing for inclusive policies and to encourage others to believe that their voices matter. It has shown me that, even when the journey feels long, change is possible, and people are paying attention.”

And, what does she say to people who have a disability but are afraid to be in leadership situations? “Your experiences and perspectives are needed. You don’t have to be fearless to lead; you just need to care enough to try. Start where you are, and remember that leadership is not about perfection, but about using your voice and abilities to help others and to help yourself grow,” was her response

For people with disabilities, she wants “true inclusion, not just accessibility in buildings, but in opportunities, in decision-making. Everyone deserves to be part of every conversation about the future because we are part of the future,” she told The Gleaner.