分类: education

  • Minister of Education Thanks Outgoing Board of Sir Luther Wynter Pre-School for Years of Dedicated Service

    Minister of Education Thanks Outgoing Board of Sir Luther Wynter Pre-School for Years of Dedicated Service

    In a formal gathering held at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s headquarters, Minister Daryll S. Matthew convened the departing Board of Directors of Sir Luther Wynter Pre-School to recognize and thank the volunteer group for decades of dedicated stewardship of one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most esteemed early childhood learning institutions. The meeting also marked a key milestone in the institution’s upcoming transition into the government’s growing network of public early childhood education centers, a Cabinet-approved initiative set to move forward in June 2026.

    Established more than half a century ago by the late Dean Idris Bird, Sir Luther Wynter Pre-School has built an extraordinary reputation in regional early education. Currently serving more than 40 young learners, the school holds the distinction of being named a UNESCO model school, and it has long functioned as a hands-on teaching practicum site for early childhood education students enrolled at the University of the West Indies Global Campus.

    Minister Matthew praised the outgoing volunteer board for their unwavering diligence and commitment to the school’s mission, emphasizing that the institution’s 50-plus year legacy of nurturing young minds would not have been possible without the consistent, uncelebrated work of volunteers who gave their time freely with no expectation of public recognition or compensation.

    “On behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, I want to express our sincere gratitude to this Board for its years of dedicated service,” Matthew stated during the meeting. “What you have built here — a nurturing, high-quality foundation for our youngest citizens — does not happen by accident. It happens because people choose, year after year, to show up for children who are not their own. As we transition Sir Luther Wynter into our expanded early childhood network, we do so committed to preserving everything that makes this institution special, and building on it.”

    The transition of the iconic pre-school is part of a broader national strategy to position early childhood education as a core government priority, with plans to expand access to high-quality early learning across Antigua and Barbuda. As part of this expansion initiative, the government has also announced plans to develop new early childhood education centers in the underserved Judges Hill and Jennings communities.

    Throughout the transition process, the Ministry of Education has reassured parents, school staff and the local community that maintaining consistent care and upholding the school’s existing high instructional standards will remain the government’s top priorities. To ensure a smooth handover and preserve the institution’s decades of institutional knowledge, ministry officials have extended an invitation to outgoing board members to remain involved with the school in an advisory capacity throughout the transition and beyond.

  • Jungle Bay-funded preschool to be handed over to education ministry

    Jungle Bay-funded preschool to be handed over to education ministry

    For nearly seven years, young children in Brooklyn, Soufriere, have attended early childhood classes in a cramped, makeshift church basement, their original learning facility destroyed when Hurricane Maria tore through the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in 2017. Next week, that long period of temporary displacement will finally come to a close, as the brand-new Dominique Marchand Pre-School is formally transferred to the island’s Ministry of Education to begin serving local families.

    Located adjacent to Soufriere Primary School, the new facility carries a meaningful name that honors a local legacy: it was named for Dominique Marchand, who was killed alongside Daniel Langlois in Soufriere’s Bois Cotlette area in 2023. The project was spearheaded by Sam Raphael, proprietor of the popular local eco-resort Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, who stepped in after the region’s member of Parliament reached out to the resort seeking support for the long-unmet community need.

    In an interview outlining the project’s journey, Raphael shared that from its earliest stages, the pre-school development was a more ambitious undertaking than Jungle Bay’s typical community initiatives. What began as a request for support grew into a major community investment totaling more than half a million U.S. dollars, with early momentum launched by the resort’s own seed funding. “It’s way in excess of half a million dollars and we didn’t know where the funds were going to come from,” Raphael explained. “Jungle Bay, we put in the first dollar got the ball rolling and got the assistance along the way…”

    The effort drew broad community and visitor support, with many guests of Jungle Bay — who often develop deep affection for Soufriere during their stays — stepping up to contribute to the creation of a permanent early learning space for local children. Resort staff also joined the effort, pooling contributions to help bring the project across the finish line.

    Today, core construction of the pre-school is fully complete, and the facility is described as a beautiful, modern space ready to welcome children aged two to five. A small amount of remaining work, including perimeter fencing and the construction of an outdoor playground, will continue after the official handover, which is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, August 11. Once transferred to the Ministry of Education, the pre-school will be operated by the government to serve generations of young learners in the Soufriere community.

    The project marks a key milestone in the region’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Maria, which destroyed much of Saint Lucia’s public infrastructure nearly a decade ago, and demonstrates how private sector and community collaboration can address unmet public needs for underserved local populations.

  • Antigua and Barbuda to Welcome 3rd Edition of Cultural and Educational Camp at Public Library

    Antigua and Barbuda to Welcome 3rd Edition of Cultural and Educational Camp at Public Library

    As summer break approaches and local families begin gearing up for the 2026 academic year, the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is preparing to launch a robust four-week summer camp designed to keep children engaged, build new skills, and ease the transition back to the classroom. Dubbed WORK FU UM! Summer Camp 2026, the initiative will run from August 10 through September 4 at the Antigua and Barbuda Public Library, welcoming young participants between the ages of 4 and 16. Unlike traditional unstructured summer downtime, this program centers on a balanced mix of academic preparation, creative exploration, cultural connection, and youth development.

    The camp’s curriculum spans a wide array of activities crafted to expose young people to diverse learning opportunities and nurture their individual strengths. Participants will take part in structured educational sessions focused on back-to-school readiness, alongside creative pursuits including music, dance, and pageantry. The program also incorporates hands-on cultural activities, educational field trips, group community service projects, and interactive collaborative workshops that encourage teamwork and peer engagement.

    A core pillar of the initiative is its focus on connecting youth to Antigua and Barbuda’s unique national heritage. Through hands-on cultural programming, children will explore local creative traditions, gaining a deeper understanding of how culture shapes personal identity and strengthens community bonds. This cultural component sets the camp apart from standard summer programs, rooting learning in local context while fostering pride in regional heritage.

    For the academic portion of the camp, organizers have designed structured learning experiences to bridge the gap between summer break and the new school year. By offering targeted back-to-school preparation and age-appropriate educational content, the program helps children shake off summer rust and reorient to structured learning, reducing transition anxiety for both students and families.

    For parents and guardians, the four-week program solves a common summer scheduling challenge, providing a productive, supervised space for children during the final weeks of the break. Camp activities will run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., aligning with typical working schedules for most caregivers. Registration will open on the first day of the camp, August 10, with a non-refundable registration fee of EC$300 required to secure a child’s spot. Interested families can get additional details by contacting Camp Director and Project Manager Peetron Thomas directly at (268) 775-1595. Organizers anticipate the program will deliver a meaningful, enriching experience that leaves participants prepared and excited for the upcoming academic term.

  • AI in schools ‘should be encouraged with safeguards’

    AI in schools ‘should be encouraged with safeguards’

    As artificial intelligence continues to reshape learning landscapes across the globe, a prominent Barbados non-profit leader is calling for a deliberate, balanced approach to integrating the technology into school classrooms. Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the hands-on youth development workshop *Next Wave: AI + Entrepreneurship Experience*, hosted Friday at the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa, Hibiscus Sports and Culture Foundation founder Akealii Hall laid out a nuanced framework for AI use that prioritizes original human thought over automated output.

    Hosted to help young Barbadians unpack both the transformative potential and hidden risks of widespread AI adoption, the Friday initiative drew support from a coalition of local stakeholders including Youth Uprising, iTech Consulting, the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa and the Legacy Foundation. Beyond introductory lessons on how AI works, the programme gave participants practical training in pairing human creativity with AI tools to launch new ventures: attendees learned to draft business plans, build viable business models, and pitch their ideas to stakeholders, all while leaning into human-led problem solving.

    Hall, who leads the foundation focused on youth skills development, argues that AI’s strengths make it a valuable auxiliary tool for education, not a replacement for independent student work. “There are a lot of benefits of it and it can definitely be used as a good tool within the classroom system, but it has to be used sparingly and knowledgeably,” he explained.

    One of the most productive use cases Hall identified is supporting students in refining work they have already completed independently. For example, AI can act as a powerful proofreading tool for finished essays, checking for punctuation and grammatical errors, and helping students polish their writing to more clearly communicate ideas that they already developed but may struggle to put into polished prose. Hall also noted that AI can streamline administrative work for student research projects, including School-Based Assessments (SBAs) required for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. After students complete the core research legwork — conducting surveys, distributing questionnaires, and gathering raw data themselves — AI can organize that information into structured data sets and analysis frameworks to save students time on manual formatting.

    Across every use case, however, Hall emphasized one non-negotiable rule: human work must always come first. He warned against allowing students to rely on AI as their primary problem-solving tool, stressing that preserving opportunities for independent critical thinking has to remain the core goal of education. “You want to always start by leading with humans first,” he said.

    The ultimate objective of the *Next Wave* workshop, Hall added, is to give young people a grounded, practical understanding of the AI tools they interact with daily. By teaching them to balance AI’s efficiency with human creativity and critical thought, the programme aims to equip a new generation of learners and entrepreneurs to use technology responsibly, rather than being controlled by it.

  • SSB Celebrates Academic Excellence with Scholarship Awards

    SSB Celebrates Academic Excellence with Scholarship Awards

    On August 7, 2026, Belize’s Social Security Board (SSB) gathered students, parents, educators and institutional leaders for a milestone scholarship ceremony, celebrating a quarter-century of expanding educational access for young Belizeans and awarding 85 new scholarships to deserving incoming high school and upper secondary students. Far more than just a one-time financial grant, each of this year’s awards carries a tangible vote of confidence in the next generation of Belizean leaders, echoing the program’s 25-year legacy of lifting up young people pursuing their academic goals.

    Launched in 2001, the SSB Scholarship Program has grown from a small initiative to a foundational educational support system that has helped hundreds of Belizean students access secondary and post-secondary education they might otherwise have been unable to afford. Speaking at the 2026 ceremony, SSB Public Relations Manager Vanessa Vellos emphasized that the 25th anniversary of the program makes this year’s event far more than a routine awards distribution—it is a celebration of decades of life-changing investment in Belize’s youth.

    “For the past twenty-five years the social security board has been transforming lives through education. So today is a very special day. It is not just a regular scholarship award ceremony. We are celebrating twenty-five years of giving back,” Vellos told reporters. Out of 200 total applications received for the 2026 award cycle, SSB selected 85 recipients based on strict, targeted eligibility criteria: all awardees must be native-born Belizeans, demonstrate verifiable financial need, prove their ability to complete a full academic program, and maintain a minimum B+ average to qualify for support. Of this year’s awards, 64 will go to students pursuing associate-level higher education, while 21 are allocated to incoming high school students.

    SSB officials note that the program serves a dual purpose: it rewards existing academic excellence and hard work, while making a long-term strategic investment in the young people who will go on to shape Belize’s economic, social and political future. The initiative aligns directly with SSB’s core institutional mission, which frames the board as a beacon of hope for communities across the country, achieved through targeted, meaningful investments in people.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast covering the event.

  • 2026 School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme

    2026 School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme

    Grenada’s Ministry of Education has kicked off the distribution of digital QR code vouchers to eligible parents and guardians participating in the country’s School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme, rolling out a modern, convenient support system for low-income households ahead of the new school year.

    Unlike traditional paper-based assistance, this new digital format offers a secure cashless transaction framework, allowing approved beneficiaries to access their allocated funds directly when purchasing required school items. The vouchers are being sent out in staggered batches to recipients via two primary channels: SMS text messages from the official contact line 1 (878) 231-3486, and email from [email protected]. To access the voucher after receiving the notification, recipients need an active internet connection to open the embedded link, and education officials recommend that users save a screenshot of the QR code to ensure quick, easy access when visiting participating vendors.

    Once beneficiaries have their QR code ready, they can redeem the voucher at any of the programme’s pre-approved authorized retailers spread across all of Grenada’s parishes and the island of Carriacou. A full list of authorized vendors has been published alongside the programme announcement, with locations sorted by parish for easy reference: In St Andrew, participating retailers include Anthony’s Fashion Store, Dee’s School and Stationery Supplies, Fletcher’s Creation, two Gora Enterprise locations on Ben Jones Street in Grenville, Louisa’s Booth #58, May Fair, Pick-N-Pay, Salim (Grenville), Save N’ Gain Department Store, Shopper’s Paradise, Spice Fashion, and Super Store. For residents of St George, authorized vendors are Ali’s Creation, Bargain House, Cost U Less, Gora Enterprise, Grenada Teachers School Supplies Ltd., Johnny’s Enterprise, L A Purcell, Majestic Department Store, two S Kumar Variety Store locations (St George’s and Grand Anse), Shoprite Store, Standard Book Store, Suchi Enterprise, and two Salim locations on Halifax Street and Melville Street. St John residents can redeem vouchers at Campbell’s Variety Store and J &A Enterprise, while St Patrick locations include Miah’s Collection, Sanchee Variety Store, and Zi Zi Mini Mart. On the island of Carriacou, participating vendors are Alexis Variety Store, All in One Variety Store, Bargain Land, Franko Tailoring, Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Jharm’s World, Joseph Plus 1, Nacodia Design, Noreen Sewing Studio, Reann’s School Essentials, Teacher Sharon’s One Stop Shop, and Teeny Things.

    The programme sets out clear guidelines for which items are covered by the assistance, spanning all core back-to-school needs. Covered clothing items include aprons, pants, school belts, shirts, shoes (capped at a maximum $100 reimbursement), skirts, socks, ties, full school uniforms, and vests. Paper products eligible for purchase include book covers, colouring books, copy paper, drawing books, envelopes, exercise books, notebooks, pocket folders, sketch pads, along with a full range of writing supplies such as chalk, colouring pencils, crayons, markers, pen sets, pencil sets, pencils, and pens. General stationery and office supplies covered include erasers, rulers, scissors, sharpeners, staplers, stapling pins, and white out, while students can also use vouchers for school bags and lunch kits. Specialized mathematical and technical tools including calculators, geometry sets, math sets, set squares, and T-squares are also approved, alongside basic sewing supplies for uniforms such as buttons, fasteners, ribbons, school uniform cloth, and zips.

    Ministry officials have encouraged approved beneficiaries to redeem their vouchers in a timely manner, noting that the vouchers will remain valid through September 25, 2026. For any questions, technical support, or programme-related enquiries, parents and vendors can reach the programme support team via call or WhatsApp at 1 (473) 415-1458, or by email at [email protected]. The ministry added that all enquiries must be directed through these designated channels, as the ministry is currently operating under a remote work arrangement.

    At its core, the School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme is designed to deliver targeted financial support to households facing economic hardship, with the core goal of ensuring all school-aged children have access to the essential resources they need to attend classes and fully engage in their education without barriers. In closing the announcement, the Ministry of Education expressed gratitude to participating parents and authorized vendors for their ongoing cooperation, and stated that the ministry expects a smooth, successful rollout of the new digital voucher system.

    This announcement was published via NOW Grenada, which notes that it is not responsible for contributor-provided statements or content, and provides a channel for users to report any abuse related to posted content.

  • Ministry and Board of Education Highlight Major School Expansion Projects as Part of Public Awareness Drive

    Ministry and Board of Education Highlight Major School Expansion Projects as Part of Public Awareness Drive

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – On August 7, 2026, senior officials from Antigua’s Ministry of Education, Science & Technology and the national Board of Education completed a joint inspection of ongoing construction work at two major secondary school sites, reaffirming the government’s long-term pledge to modernize the country’s education infrastructure to meet growing student needs.

    The two expansion projects, which broke ground last year, are core components of the Board of Education’s annual summer infrastructure improvement program, a broader initiative that covers upgrades and maintenance at more than 40 public schools across the nation. The inspection tour gave leaders a first-hand look at construction progress and allowed them to highlight the cross-agency collaboration driving the effort to address long-standing gaps in school facilities.

    At Antigua Grammar School, the project centers on expanding and consolidating the institution’s Home Economics Department. Currently, the department’s Food & Nutrition program is housed on the school’s lower floor, while Home Management and Clothing & Textiles operate from the upper level. Once complete, the consolidated facility will bring all three program areas under a single roof, creating a cohesive, functional space designed specifically for hands-on practical training that helps students build critical technical and life skills.

    Following the inspection at Antigua Grammar, the delegation traveled to Clare Hall Secondary School, where a far-reaching capacity expansion project is underway to resolve persistent overcrowding issues. The development will add seven new classrooms to the campus – three on the lower level and four on the upper – increasing the school’s total enrollment capacity by roughly 200 students to accommodate growing demand for secondary school places in the region.

    Both expansion projects are fully funded through the national Education Levy, a dedicated revenue stream managed by the Board of Education, with the Ministry of Education providing strategic oversight to ensure all infrastructure investments align with the broader goals and priorities of Antigua’s national education system. Officials confirmed that construction is on schedule, and both upgrades will be fully completed ahead of the 2026–2027 academic year, ready to welcome students when the new term begins.

    Education Minister Daryll Matthew emphasized that the ongoing work reflects the current government’s core policy priority: investing in education facilities that are equipped to serve both the current and future needs of Antigua’s student population. “Our government’s policy is clear: improving the quality of education cannot be separated from improving the physical environments where our students learn and our teachers work,” Matthew explained during the tour. “As the demands placed on our education system continue to evolve, our school infrastructure must evolve alongside them. The upgrades at Antigua Grammar and Clare Hall Secondary are just part of our broader commitment to expanding enrollment capacity, modernizing our school stock, and creating spaces that actively support high-quality teaching and learning.”

    Carla Farquhar, Executive Secretary of the Board of Education, noted that the visible construction progress at the two schools demonstrates the value of careful, responsible management of the Education Levy, which lies at the center of the Board’s core work. “The Education Levy is a direct investment by the people of Antigua and Barbuda in the future of our nation’s education,” Farquhar said. “The Board carries a fundamental responsibility to manage these public resources prudently, and direct every dollar toward projects that will deliver meaningful, long-lasting impact for students and communities. When levy contributors see schools being expanded, new resources being added, and facilities being upgraded, they are seeing their contributions hard at work.”

    Farquhar also took the opportunity to remind all levy contributors of the importance of meeting their Education Levy obligations on time. “Every single contribution makes a difference. The scale and scope of the work we can support across the entire education system is directly tied to the amount of resources available to the Board. Timely, consistent contributions allow us to plan long-term, respond quickly to pressing priority needs, and make sustained, transformative investments in our schools. Good stewardship requires accountability from our side, but it also depends on the continued support and compliance of every contributor.”

    This joint inspection tour is part of a broader public outreach initiative by the Ministry and Board of Education, designed to increase transparency and public awareness of the ongoing investments being made to strengthen Antigua’s education sector.

  • Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean swears-in new cohort of volunteers

    Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean swears-in new cohort of volunteers

    In a landmark hybrid regional ceremony connecting four Eastern Caribbean nations this week, 25 new Peace Corps volunteers were officially sworn in, launching a two-year service mission focused on expanding early-grade English literacy across local primary school communities. The inclusive event brought together in-person and virtual stakeholders from four host nations: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Dominica. Attendees included senior government officials, representatives from national education ministries, local community leaders, volunteer host families, partnering school administrations, and Peace Corps organizational staff, all gathered to extend a collective welcome to the incoming cohort.

    In her opening remarks, Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean Country Director Kimberly Will underscored the historic weight of the occasion, highlighting both the personal commitment of the new volunteers and the deep, longstanding ties between the region and the global service organization. She noted that St. Lucia boasts one of the organization’s oldest continuous partnerships, dating all the way back to 1961 when the first Peace Corps volunteers arrived on the island — a partnership that will mark its 65th anniversary in 2026. Will emphasized that the most meaningful and lasting change from Peace Corps service does not come from programs alone, but from “sustained relationships, shared goals, and collaboration rooted in optimism and commitment with their host country counterparts.”

    Karin Sullivan, Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. Mission to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, also addressed the new volunteers, urging them to uphold the core Peace Corps values of cross-cultural friendship, institutional accountability, and mutual respect. She reminded the group that their individual service forms part of a broader American tradition of civic engagement, one rooted in the belief that individual commitment and contribution can strengthen both the United States and global communities at large.

    Before their swearing-in, the 25 volunteers completed an intensive 9-week immersive preparation program designed to equip them for life and service in the region. Training covered critical skills including local language acquisition, cultural orientation tailored to Eastern Caribbean norms, evidence-based literacy instruction methods, and hands-on classroom practice to build teaching confidence. Now fully prepared, the volunteers will deploy to primary school placements across the four islands, where they will focus on boosting English literacy outcomes for students in Grades 1 through 5, a critical period for building foundational reading skills.

    Deployment numbers are distributed across the host islands to match local education needs: five volunteers will serve in Dominica, six in Grenada, nine in St. Lucia, and five in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Each cohort will work aligned with the long-term national literacy goals set by their host country’s education leadership.

    The induction of the new cohort comes as Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean prepares to mark a major regional milestone in 2026: 65 years of continuous service and partnership across the region, and with the Government of St. Lucia specifically. Since the first Peace Corps volunteers arrived in the Eastern Caribbean in 1961, more than 4,339 volunteers have served across the subregion. Currently, 38 active volunteers are working alongside local teachers, school principals, and community members to expand literacy access and deepen people-to-people cultural exchange across the four host islands.

  • 85 Bright Minds Handed a Ticket to Higher Education

    85 Bright Minds Handed a Ticket to Higher Education

    On August 7, 2026, the Social Security Board (SSB) of Belize marked a significant milestone in its commitment to accessible education, awarding 85 need-based scholarships to outstanding local students during a special ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of its flagship scholarship program. Holding to this year’s theme, “Empowering Future Generations through Education,” the event honored the selected students who have cleared a rigorous selection process to receive financial support for their academic journeys.

    Vanessa Vellos, Communications and Public Relations Manager at SSB, emphasized that the 2026 ceremony carries far more meaning than a routine annual awards event. “This isn’t just a regular gathering to hand out scholarships,” Vellos explained. “We are celebrating a quarter-century of intentional investment in Belize’s people, and 25 years of giving back to the communities that trust our institution.”

    This year, the program received 200 total applications from across Belize. After a thorough review aligned with the program’s eligibility criteria, 64 students pursuing associate degrees were selected for higher education scholarships, while an additional 21 students received awards to cover high school studies. Unlike many generic scholarship funds, Vellos noted, SSB’s program is structured to lift up students facing systemic and personal financial barriers: a large share of this year’s successful applicants come from single-parent households or other circumstances of economic hardship.

    To qualify for an SSB scholarship, applicants must be native-born Belizean citizens, document verified financial need, maintain a minimum B+ grade average throughout their academic careers, and demonstrate a clear capacity to complete their chosen degree or study program. The financial awards are structured to cover core educational costs: high school recipients receive a one-time grant of $1,200, while associate degree students get $1,000 per semester of their program.

    Vellos stressed that every scholarship awarded by SSB is more than just individual financial assistance—it is a long-term investment in Belize’s national development. By supporting students to complete their education, the board is actively building a stronger, more skilled future workforce that will drive progress across every sector of the Belizean economy. Two and a half decades into the program, that investment is already showing clear returns: past scholarship recipients have gone on to become teachers, media professionals, private sector consultants, and other productive, engaged leaders across Belizean society.

    For students and community members interested in learning more about future application cycles or program requirements, full details are posted on the SSB’s official website at socialsecurityboard.org.bz.

  • Dominica national 4-H Club embarks on historic first educational tour to Paris

    Dominica national 4-H Club embarks on historic first educational tour to Paris

    A landmark moment for youth education in Dominica has arrived this summer, as the country’s national 4-H Club organization has launched its first-ever international educational tour, bringing a 31-member cross-community delegation of students, educators, school leaders and parent chaperones to Paris, France.

    Bert Paul, president of the Dominica National 4-H Club, confirmed the details of the milestone trip in an official statement, noting that the traveling group draws participants from 10 different educational institutions across the island nation. These schools span all education levels, ranging from primary campuses including Christian Union Primary School, Roosevelt Douglas Primary School and Bense Primary School to secondary institutions such as Convent High School, Dominica Grammar School, Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, Saint Martin Secondary School, Goodwill Secondary School, Pierre Charles Secondary School, and the tertiary-level Dominica State College.

    As a long-running non-formal education initiative supported by Dominica’s Youth Development Division, the 4-H Club operates on a core “learning by doing” philosophy that bridges gaps between traditional classroom instruction and real-world skill building. Unlike standard academic programs, the organization centers its activities on student-led projects that empower young people to cultivate practical life competencies. Participants are guided to set personal and project-focused goals, build self-confidence, take ownership of their work through new responsibilities, and practice independent, thoughtful decision-making—all tools designed to help young people unlock their full potential and build foundational success for their futures.

    This first international tour to Paris marks a major expansion of the organization’s educational offerings, giving local Dominican youth the chance to gain global cultural exposure and hands-on learning experiences beyond their home island. Photographs from the trip document the delegation visiting iconic Parisian landmarks including the Arc de Triomphe, blending cultural exploration with the 4-H Club’s signature experiential learning model.