There is no other place in the world with such a unique blend of cultures. The Caribbean’s colorful and distinctive lifestyle has been shaped over the past 500 years by:  native Indians, European settlers, African slaves, North Americans, and indentured labor from China and the East Indies.  This unique blend of African, European and Asian cultures and languages has transformed the Caribbean islands into one of the most distinctive regions in the world. 

There are an estimated 7,000 islands in the Caribbean Sea.  100 of these islands are permanently inhabited and represent 24 different countries.  Distances between islands vary greatly, but none, except Bermuda, is more than 124 miles from its nearest neighbor.
The islands form a wide arc between Florida in the north and Venezuela in the south, as well as a barrier between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The islands vary in size and natural beauty. There are deserts, rain forests, mountains and volcanoes. And not to be missed are the miles and miles of beautiful beaches with azure, sapphire, and blue waters lapping at the shores.
 

However, it is not the richness of the culture or the beauty of the islands that compels Young Life to be at work in the Caribbean. The most compelling aspect of the Caribbean is its teenagers. 
One half of the population of the Caribbean region is under 20 years of age and for most of these young people the prospects for the future are bleak.  A history of colonialism, slavery, piracy, and revolution has left its imprint on the Caribbean youth.
Teens in the Caribbean face a difficult path to adulthood. Poverty and unemployment are frequently the norm in their native islands. Those from poorer families must often work as well as attend school and opportunities for higher education and good jobs are extremely limited.
Finding solace in religion is difficult for a Caribbean teen.  The history and blending of cultures in the Caribbean has led to a number of hybrid religions and the search for the truth is elusive.  Alongside churches one will find a blending of theology from local mysticism, Christianity and a belief in the power of magic. Creole religions, cults and the prominent Rastafarian religion abound.