Trending
Emonews
The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF-SVG) has officially commenced implementation of the EU-funded „Cultivating Futures – Empowering Youths for a Food Secure Region‟ project; which is an 18-month regional initiative aimed at strengthening food security, youth engagement and sustainable food systems across four Eastern Caribbean countries.
The project, which officially began on 27th March 2026, is funded by the European Union, under its EU Caribbean Fund for Nutrition (EU-CaN) programme, which is a comprehensive four-year food security initiative targeting six countries within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Implemented across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Dominica, the project will support the development and expansion of resilient and sustainable school feeding systems through the establishment and enhancement of ecological school gardens in vulnerable communities. It also seeks to improve access to nutritious, locally grown food within schools while creating opportunities for youths and educators to participate in practical, garden-based learning experiences focused on climate-smart agriculture, nutrition, environmental sustainability and food systems education.
Over the course of the project, ecological school gardens will be established or enhanced in ten (10) primary schools across the participating countries, benefiting approximately 1,600 students between the ages of 5 and 11 years. The initiative will also provide relevant training and technical support for teachers, cooks, administrators and other key school stakeholders in areas including sustainable agriculture, garden management, nutrition, and menu planning.
In addition to strengthening school feeding programmes, the project will introduce practical student activities, public education discussions, social awareness campaigns and a regional „Garden-to-Lunch‟ School Garden
Competition aimed at encouraging innovation, participation, and excellence among participating schools.
Speaking on the commencement of the initiative, Director and CEO of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique, said the project represents an important investment in the future of the region‟s food systems and young people.
“Cultivating Futures is a transformative initiative that places children and communities at the centre of sustainable food security efforts within the Caribbean. Through this project, we are not only supporting schools with access to fresh, nutritious produce, but we are also creating opportunities for young people to develop a deeper understanding of agriculture, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and resilience,” Horne-Bique stated.
She added that the initiative reflects the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing shared food security challenges. “Small island developing states continue to face increasing pressures linked to climate change, economic disruptions and food import dependence. This project demonstrates the value of regional partnerships and practical community
based solutions that empower our youth while strengthening local food systems for generations to come,” she said.
Project Coordinator Chanda Davis also highlighted the project‟s focus on experiential learning and youth engagement. “This initiative is designed to make agriculture and food sustainability more accessible, engaging and meaningful for children. By integrating ecological school gardens into the learning environment, students will have the opportunity to actively participate in growing food, understanding healthy diets, and building lifelong skills connected to sustainability and self-sufficiency,” explained
Davis.
She noted that the project‟s activities are intended to create long-term impact beyond the classroom. “We want students to see agriculture not simply as an activity, but as an important part of community resilience, entrepreneurship and national development. The practical experiences provided through this project can inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens and future agricultural leaders throughout the region,” she added.
The project forms part of ongoing regional and international efforts to improve nutrition outcomes, strengthen climate resilience, and reduce food insecurity among vulnerable populations within the Caribbean. A formal call for schools interested in participating in the initiative will soon be launched within the participating countries.
An official regional launch event and media briefing for the „Cultivating Futures – Empowering Youths for a Food Secure Region‟ project is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2026, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The event is expected to bring together representatives from participating countries, regional stakeholders, government agencies and development partners involved in advancing food security and sustainable development.
The project‟s progress and other information can be found via the ZHTF website https://zerohungersvg.com/eu-cultivatingfutures/ and its social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram).
-END
The project is funded by the European Union under the EU-CaN project implemented by FIAP and Central Project Management Agency (CPVA). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CPVA. Neither the European Union nor the contracting authority can be held responsible for them.
The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF-SVG) is a statutory non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing hunger and improving nutrition through sustainable, community-driven programmes and partnerships. Through initiatives focused on school feeding, agriculture, youth engagement, and food security. the ZHTF-SVG works to build resilient communities and support national and regional efforts future where no one goes hungry.
Contact:
ZHTF EU-CaN Project Coordinator
Ms. Chanda Davis
eucanpc@zerohungersvg.com and info@zerohungersvg.com
(784) 457-1738 (office) (784) 493-8160 (Mobile)
The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF-SVG) has officially commenced implementation of the EU-funded „Cultivating Futures – Empowering Youths for a Food Secure Region‟ project; which is an 18-month regional initiative aimed at strengthening food security, youth engagement and sustainable food systems across four Eastern Caribbean countries.
The project, which officially began on 27th March 2026, is funded by the European Union, under its EU Caribbean Fund for Nutrition (EU-CaN) programme, which is a comprehensive four-year food security initiative targeting six countries within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Implemented across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Dominica, the project will support the development and expansion of resilient and sustainable school feeding systems through the establishment and enhancement of ecological school gardens in vulnerable communities. It also seeks to improve access to nutritious, locally grown food within schools while creating opportunities for youths and educators to participate in practical, garden-based learning experiences focused on climate-smart agriculture, nutrition, environmental sustainability and food systems education.
Over the course of the project, ecological school gardens will be established or enhanced in ten (10) primary schools across the participating countries, benefiting approximately 1,600 students between the ages of 5 and 11 years. The initiative will also provide relevant training and technical support for teachers, cooks, administrators and other key school stakeholders in areas including sustainable agriculture, garden management, nutrition, and menu planning.
In addition to strengthening school feeding programmes, the project will introduce practical student activities, public education discussions, social awareness campaigns and a regional „Garden-to-Lunch‟ School Garden
Competition aimed at encouraging innovation, participation, and excellence among participating schools.
Speaking on the commencement of the initiative, Director and CEO of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique, said the project represents an important investment in the future of the region‟s food systems and young people.
“Cultivating Futures is a transformative initiative that places children and communities at the centre of sustainable food security efforts within the Caribbean. Through this project, we are not only supporting schools with access to fresh, nutritious produce, but we are also creating opportunities for young people to develop a deeper understanding of agriculture, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and resilience,” Horne-Bique stated.
She added that the initiative reflects the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing shared food security challenges. “Small island developing states continue to face increasing pressures linked to climate change, economic disruptions and food import dependence. This project demonstrates the value of regional partnerships and practical community
based solutions that empower our youth while strengthening local food systems for generations to come,” she said.
Project Coordinator Chanda Davis also highlighted the project‟s focus on experiential learning and youth engagement. “This initiative is designed to make agriculture and food sustainability more accessible, engaging and meaningful for children. By integrating ecological school gardens into the learning environment, students will have the opportunity to actively participate in growing food, understanding healthy diets, and building lifelong skills connected to sustainability and self-sufficiency,” explained
Davis.
She noted that the project‟s activities are intended to create long-term impact beyond the classroom. “We want students to see agriculture not simply as an activity, but as an important part of community resilience, entrepreneurship and national development. The practical experiences provided through this project can inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens and future agricultural leaders throughout the region,” she added.
The project forms part of ongoing regional and international efforts to improve nutrition outcomes, strengthen climate resilience, and reduce food insecurity among vulnerable populations within the Caribbean. A formal call for schools interested in participating in the initiative will soon be launched within the participating countries.
An official regional launch event and media briefing for the „Cultivating Futures – Empowering Youths for a Food Secure Region‟ project is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2026, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The event is expected to bring together representatives from participating countries, regional stakeholders, government agencies and development partners involved in advancing food security and sustainable development.
The project‟s progress and other information can be found via the ZHTF website https://zerohungersvg.com/eu-cultivatingfutures/ and its social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram).
-END
The project is funded by the European Union under the EU-CaN project implemented by FIAP and Central Project Management Agency (CPVA). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CPVA. Neither the European Union nor the contracting authority can be held responsible for them.
The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF-SVG) is a statutory non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing hunger and improving nutrition through sustainable, community-driven programmes and partnerships. Through initiatives focused on school feeding, agriculture, youth engagement, and food security. the ZHTF-SVG works to build resilient communities and support national and regional efforts future where no one goes hungry.
Contact:
ZHTF EU-CaN Project Coordinator
Ms. Chanda Davis
eucanpc@zerohungersvg.com and info@zerohungersvg.com
(784) 457-1738 (office) (784) 493-8160 (Mobile)
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
We’re excited to introduce Emonew, Dominica’s fresh new source for general country news. From community updates to national stories, we’re here to keep you informed, connected, and up to date.
Copyright Emonews 2025
