标签： Dominica

On June 27, 2026, Dominica America Scholarship & Culture, Inc. (DASCI), a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational access and preserving Dominican cultural heritage, distributed 47 need-based scholarships to eligible students across Dominica and the United States during a virtual awards ceremony. This year’s disbursement marks 23 consecutive years of the organization’s flagship scholarship program, which has grown from a small community initiative to a cross-regional support system empowering young learners.

This year’s cohort of recipients includes 44 students transitioning from primary to secondary education across nine public and private primary schools in Dominica. Each of these students will receive a one-time grant of US$750, equivalent to roughly EC$2,000, to cover the costs of school supplies, uniforms, tuition fees and other expenses associated with moving to secondary school. An additional three students pursuing post-secondary education at Florida high schools — St. Lucie West Centennial High School and Treasure Coast High School — have each been awarded US$1,000 grants to support their college preparatory studies.

DASCI is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed primarily of Dominican expatriates residing in Florida. Since its founding, the group has centered its mission on two core goals: opening new educational pathways for young people connected to Dominica, and safeguarding Dominican cultural traditions among diaspora communities. The entire scholarship program is funded through voluntary membership fundraising initiatives and donations from third-party supporters, including long-time partners David Shillingford, the Marie Family Dominica Educational Fund, and the John and Nancy Donnelly Family Fund.

Recipients hail from nine primary institutions across Dominica, with the largest cohort coming from Convent Preparatory School (12 recipients), followed by Christian Union Primary School (6), Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School (5), Mahaut Primary School (5), Massacre Primary School (5), St. Mary’s Primary School (4), Berean Christian Academy (3), Coulibistrie Primary School (3), and Pioneer Preparatory School (1). The full list of awardees has been published on DASCI’s official website for public reference.

Organizers emphasized that the program would not be possible without the close partnership of school administrators, who identify high-achieving, low-income students and encourage them to submit applications. Claire Nola Stedman, principal of Mahaut Primary School, one of the participating schools, voiced her strong support for the initiative in the wake of this year’s awards announcement. “We greatly appreciate the support that DASCI continues to provide to Dominican students as they transition to secondary school,” Stedman said. “This scholarship will undoubtedly assist these students and their families as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.”

For recipients like Ahjani Toussaint, a graduating student from Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School, the financial support removes a major barrier to continued learning. “Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me and my family,” Toussaint shared. “This generous support greatly eases my school expenses, allowing me to continue learning and dedicating myself to my long-term goals.”

Delivering the event’s keynote address, Jodie Dublin-Dangleben expanded on this year’s program theme: “Innovators, Leaders and Changemakers.” She framed the core values the program seeks to nurture, explaining, “Innovators solve problems by creating new ideas; leaders solve problems by bringing people together, and changemakers solve problems by taking action and making a difference.”

Looking back on 23 years of operation since the scholarship program launched in 2003, DASCI officials reported that the organization has now awarded a total of 232 grants worth more than US$162,950 — approximately EC$442,718 — to students across Dominica and the U.S. diaspora. As the organization marks its 23rd anniversary, it reaffirmed its long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers through sustained educational investment, operating under its official motto “Forward We Go.”

For students and community members looking ahead, DASCI has already released preliminary details for its 2027 Scholarship Programme. Planning for the next cycle will kick off in January 2027, when participating schools will be finalized. Full details on eligibility requirements, application procedures and participating institutions will be posted to the DASCI official website, with applications open to eligible students through May 31, 2027. Individuals interested in supporting the program through financial donations can also contribute via the organization’s website, and those seeking additional information can contact DASCI directly by email at info@daschimigration.org.

In a targeted push to strengthen Dominica’s agricultural sector and boost long-term farmer livelihoods, more than 50 local producers and agricultural stakeholders have completed hands-on training focused on advancing vegetable output through cutting-edge irrigation, fertigation, and nutrient stewardship practices. Organized jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, the June 2, 2026, practical workshop was hosted at the One Mile Agricultural Station in Portsmouth, drawing 56 participants that included 29 women and 27 men. Attendees represented a cross-section of the island’s agricultural ecosystem, from smallholder farmers and government extension officers to representatives of sector-supporting organizations.

This training forms a core component of FAO’s ongoing regional initiative, “Improving livelihoods through diversified high-value vegetable crop production in selected agroclimatic zones,” a program designed to help small-scale and commercial producers across Dominica adopt climate-smart, modern production technologies. A key deliverable of the project is the development of 16 demonstration sites across the island’s diverse agroclimatic regions, each showcasing advanced production models ranging from open-field sustainable farming to upgraded greenhouse structures, anti-pest net houses, and improved water and nutrient delivery systems. These demonstration hubs are designed to act as accessible, practical learning centers for local producers and extension staff, with the long-term goals of driving higher crop productivity, cutting resource waste, and lifting household incomes for farming communities.

Led by two seasoned FAO technical specialists – Horticulture Specialist Marcko Theodoracopoulos and Plant Production and Protection Specialist Anne Desrochers, who also served as the project’s Lead Technical Officer – the workshop centered on immediately actionable skills that participants could apply on their own farms right after the training. Attendees gained hands-on experience installing and maintaining drip irrigation infrastructure, formulating and applying soluble fertilizers accurately, and building custom fertigation schedules aligned with specific crop growth stages and unique on-site field conditions.

A core focus of the training was the correct operation and calibration of Venturi fertilizer injectors, low-cost, low-maintenance devices that leverage water pressure to evenly distribute fertilizer solutions through existing irrigation lines. Through a combination of technical lectures, live on-site demonstrations, and guided group practice, participants also worked through solutions for common on-farm challenges, including clogged irrigation lines, uneven water distribution, improper fertilizer mixing, and adapting nutrient and water schedules to shifting crop needs and weather conditions.

Desrochers emphasized that the project’s impact extends far beyond just providing new equipment and infrastructure. “The project is not only providing irrigation, fertigation and protected-cultivation technologies. It is also ensuring that farmers and national technicians have the practical knowledge required to operate these systems effectively and make sound decisions based on crop stage, soil and field conditions,” she explained. “This combination of appropriate technology and strengthened technical capacity is essential for improving productivity, using water and fertilizers more efficiently, and building more resilient vegetable-production systems in Dominica.”

Local agricultural stakeholders echoed Desrochers’ positive assessment of the training. Joanne Williams, Extension Officer for Dominica’s West Agricultural Region, noted that the new skills she gained will directly benefit the farmers and school agricultural programs she supports across the region. “This training provided me with valuable new knowledge that I can apply in the field and share with the schools and farmers I support, particularly to help them reduce production costs while improving profitability,” she said.

Jeffrey Bruney, a farmer and agri-entrepreneur who operates Kubuli Farms, added that access to this hands-on technical training fills a critical gap for local producers. “This training was essential because it introduced farmers to new fertilizers and production systems, helping us to use these technologies effectively, apply the knowledge at our own farms and share it with other farmers,” he said.

The one-day workshop was part of a broader five-day FAO technical mission to Dominica, conducted from June 1 to 5, 2026. Immediately following the training, FAO specialists and local government counterparts traveled to project beneficiary demonstration sites across the island to assess pre-installation preparations for new irrigation and fertigation infrastructure. During the site visits, the joint team evaluated key site characteristics including land preparation progress, water access, drainage capacity, field layout, and planned infrastructure placement. The assessments also mapped any remaining site preparation work and outstanding material requirements, allowing the team to finalize timelines for infrastructure installation.

Looking ahead, FAO reaffirmed its long-term commitment to collaborating with Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen the island’s vegetable sector. The organization says it will continue to support the development of a sustainable, climate-resilient, market-focused agricultural industry through ongoing technical training, access to context-appropriate technologies, and sustained partnership with local farming communities.

Aging populations across the Caribbean face growing challenges around protection of personal rights, access to essential services, and prevention of abuse — and the Dominica Council on Ageing (DCA) is stepping forward to address these gaps with a upcoming public forum focused on empowering older residents and their support networks.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the conference room of the Dominica Public Service Union, the open forum is targeted at a broad audience: current senior citizens, individuals approaching retirement, professional caregivers, and family members of older adults. Unlike closed, invitation-only policy events, this gathering is open to all interested members of the public, with no admission fee charged to remove barriers to access.

In an official press release announcing the initiative, the DCA laid out two core objectives for the panel discussion. First, the event aims to deliver clear, accessible education on a range of critical issues that impact the daily lives of older Dominicans. These topics span foundational needs including healthcare access, long-term financial security, safe and affordable housing, and the fundamental right of seniors to make their own personal decisions about their care and lives.

Second, the forum is designed to spark constructive dialogue and collective action to improve existing governance for older residents. Organizers noted that the discussion will push for reviews and updates to current legal frameworks that protect older persons, with a specific focus on closing gaps that leave seniors vulnerable to financial exploitation, physical abuse, and neglect. The ultimate goal of these reforms is to guarantee that older adults’ personal wishes and civil rights are fully respected across all areas of life.

To ensure the discussion is informed by diverse, expert perspectives, the DCA has assembled a cross-disciplinary panel of professionals to lead the conversation. Participating experts include two practicing attorneys, Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams and John Elue Charles, who will bring legal insight into existing rights and safeguards; psychiatrist Dr. Nadia Wallace, who will address mental health and autonomy issues; representatives from two major local financial institutions, the National Bank of Dominica (NBD) and the National Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU), who will cover financial protection topics; Mary-Therese Junkere, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Dominica (PHARCS); and Ainsworth Irish, a representative of the DCA itself.

Organizers emphasize that the forum will deliver more than just information: it will also serve as a launching pad for sustained advocacy. By equipping seniors, their families, and community leaders with knowledge of existing rights, the DCA hopes to build a broader movement for stronger protections that uphold three core values for older Dominicans: dignity, personal safety, and independent living in later life. The council has urged all relevant community groups, including senior organizations and caregiver networks, to attend and contribute to the discussion.