The Youth Flex radio show will sign off on its 39th season on Wednesday, 27 April with a focus on the upcoming elections. Representatives from the Elections Office will join the panel to encourage young voters to register for the 2017 general elections.

For close to 20 weeks, listeners have joined show host Tajel Small, and her co-hosts Aliyha Nelson, Ayanna Davis-Eden, and Chanelle Scott, every Wednesday afternoon. Under the theme of ‘Compassionate Radicalism’ the young panel has lead discussions on hot button issues such as the cruise berthing facility, cultural events such as National Heroes Day, and more light-hearted fare.

Youth Flex first hit the airwaves on 26 September, 2001 with James Myles sitting in the host seat. The show is a joint initiative of the Youth Services Unit and Radio Cayman. It is also known for its interaction with listeners, many of whom call into the show to share their thoughts and opinions. As the years have progressed, Youth Flex has found innovative ways to share its story with new audiences by incorporating a live Periscope feed, which can be viewed by downloading the app onto a smartphone. Through its Periscope feed the show has been viewed by people as far as Greece, USA, UK, Russia, Australia and Italy. In addition, the show is recorded and broadcast on Cayman Life TV on Logic cable channel 33.

More than 100 young people have taken part in the programme, with over half serving in the role of host and co-host. Living up to the show motto of ‘More Than Talk’ the hosts, and other members of the Youth Flex team meet weekly to produce the content of each episode, which includes the “Sometime After Four News”, Youth Achievement Highlights, and Word of the Week.

As one door closes another opens. Season 40 of Youth Flex will be hosted by Chanelle Scott, under the theme of ‘Hope’, on Wednesday, 6 July. This summer, the team hopes to recruit students from Cayman Brac to take part in the show as well.

Youth Flex airs every Wednesday from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Radio Cayman, 89.9 FM. Listeners can call into the show on 1-800-534-8255.

(GIS) Photo caption: Photo by Edlyn Ruiz, GIS

Caption 1: Show host Tajel Small

Caption 2: R-l Tajel Small, Aliyah Nelson, and Ayanna Davis-Eden, The Youth Flex panel

Caption 3: Youth Flex being recorded for Cayman Life TV