By Deslyn A Joseph
Joshuanette Francis, President of Good Humans 268 Inc., is one of two individuals who will represent Antigua and Barbuda on the international stage at the upcoming Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program in the USA.
The other representative selected from the twin-island nation for the 2026 cohort is Canice James, who represents Antigua and Barbuda Cyber Hawk Solutions. The duo will travel to the US on April 19.
Francis and James were selected as part of a 250-member group from across the Caribbean and Latin America to participate in this professional development journey in the United States. Their experience will begin with orientation in Houston, Texas, followed by a month-long professional placement in a U.S. city. The program concludes in Washington, D.C. in May.
Francis, who has personally thrived while overcoming discrimination associated with her own disability, viewed this exchange as a vital platform to further the mission of Good Humans 268. She describes her organization as a service-oriented entity that holds persons with disabilities at heart. Her personal drive to eradicate discrimination by touching one life at a time serves as the beating heart of the organization’s work.
“The mission of Good Humans 268 Inc. focuses on creating golden opportunities through community outreach, climate action, and sustainable farming,” she stated. “We are committed to providing employment and specialized training, as these efforts represent the beginning of change in the disabled community,” she added. A key component of her work involves a student community service program designed to foster environmental stewardship through recycling and tree planting. Francis explained that this initiative seeks to inspire the youth to become proactive stewards of the environment while aligning with United Nations sustainable development goals.
“To date, the organization’s recycling initiatives have received approximately $US98,000 in support from GEF small grants and the Sandals Foundation. While these funds have been instrumental, there is a need for funding for the other aspects of the program,” she said.
The organization has revealed an ambitious vision to acquire 50 acres of land to house a 35-acre farm, a 5-acre nursery, and a 10-acre state-of-the-art compound. The expansion plans also include a 10-acre presence in Barbuda.
“We cannot give everyone a job, but we can give every disabled person a home away from home,” Francis stated, calling for government and agency support to turn this vision into reality. She noted that the “268” in the organization’s name stands for Antigua and expressed hope that the Good Humans model could eventually be replicated across other islands in the region.
Emphasizing that disability does not discriminate between gender, race, sexual orientation, age, political or religious beliefs, Francis asserted that building awareness is a collective duty. Reflecting on her upcoming travel and the growth of her advocacy, she concluded that sitting here and “being a part of something so important and impactful is proof that individuals with disabilities, like our name, are good humans”.
Observer Media’s efforts to reach Canice James for comment were unsuccessful up to press time.