Nearly 150 Youths Trained Under Ridge to Reef Project to Safeguard SVG’s Environment

Students participating in various activities of the Ridge to Reef Project. Photos were provided by the United Nations Development Programme.

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By S.Browne. Updated 2:29 p.m., Saturday, September 6, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Nearly 150 young Vincentians across the nation have been trained to protect the environment through the recently concluded Ridge to Reef Project.

The initiative was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented through a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour.

Running from mid-July to late August, the programme offered hands-on experiences that linked environmental sustainability with youth development. According to Kimeisha Bailey, Communication and Knowledge Management Officer of the Ridge to Reef Project, “The Youth Engagement Initiative ensured facilitators delivered engaging programmes, creating experiences that will resonate with participants for years to come. Students developed an interest in conservation, biodiversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals.” The programme also benefited from strong stakeholder collaboration, reflecting Sustainable Development Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

With an investment of more than EC$100,000, the Summer Youth Engagement Programme sponsored seven camps coordinated by national agencies, including the Forestry Services Department, the Rural Transformation Unit, and the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority. Private partners such as the Canouan Group – comprising Canouan Estate Resort and Villas, Mandarin Oriental Canouan, and SOHO Beach House Canouan – as well as the Union Island Environmental Alliance, also supported the initiative. Camps were hosted across the country, from Owia to Spring Village on the mainland, and Bequia, Canouan, and Union Island in the Grenadines, each tailored to its community’s unique environmental and cultural setting.

Students engaged in hands-on activities that put ecosystem-based policies into action, including composting and climate-smart agriculture, forest hikes, nature-literacy walks, presentations on endemic species, eco-craft and creative sessions with local artists such as Poshelle, Bee Coming Arts Academy, and Sincerely Grace, as well as drone mapping and garden design workshops.

Many young people expressed a wish for the programmes to continue beyond their scheduled days, while parents praised its impact. Parent Ronita Ollivierre said: “Thank you all for the opportunity. My children enjoyed it and my ears were ringing each day from the activities. Thank you mostly for taking care of my daughter and giving her the chance to participate.” Summer programme participant Renora Campbell from Bequia highlighted her favourite activity: “The scavenger hunt on the hike through the Bequia Dry Forest. I learned a lot about plant and animal wildlife while having fun with my friends.”

By combining environmental education with youth empowerment, organisers of the Ridge to Reef Summer Youth Engagement Programme hope to strengthen national conservation efforts while underscoring the value of engaging young people early in agriculture and sustainability. The initiative also reinforces Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

This information was sourced from a press release sent to us by the United Nations Development Programme.