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The people in our neighbourhood
Delivering programs on island is the work of some exceptionally gifted hands
by Glen Herbert
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At our event at Provision earlier this month we featured some of the people who deliver the Grenadines Initiative learning, wellness, nutrition, and relief programs. They, and others, enable us to do what we do, and to have the impact that we have.
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Megan Glynn is on staff of the Grenadines Initiative, hired to work with Jack and Mariana Dee at the Paget Farm dental clinic. A certified dental assistant, born and raised on Bequia, she works in the clinic and also provides fluoride treatments to patients under 13, distributes dental hygiene supplies, and conducts educational outreach on proper oral care. Megan supports the community, one smile at a time.
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Tylisha Miller heads up the Learning Center, an afterschool program in Port Elizabeth. She and her staff help children and young adults develop literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Passionate about education, she creates engaging learning environments that support students’ growth and confidence. She ensures that learning is active, cooperative, and fun. She also runs special programs throughout the year.
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The teachers at the Learning Centre provide afterschool enrichment, helping students improve literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills. The Centre is just at the end of the back road, at the junction with the road to Spring. The teachers are there every day after school, greeting students with a welcome smile. They answer questions about homework from their day schools, and then review concepts, build facility with core skills, and have a lot of fun, too.
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Solana Gooding works to ensure that the food security program and emergency response initiative gets to the people who need it most. She distributes food vouchers, checking up on people as she goes. Her empathy and understanding are beyond impressive. Her leadership fosters collaboration between international donors and local communities, both through us and through Rise Up Bequia, an NGO that she co-leads.
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The GI runs and supports a number of food security initiatives, and Eugena Primus's kitchen is one of them. Eugena serves hot lunches each school day, offered at no cost to students, and operates out of a kitchen just near the schools in Port Elizabeth. The food is familiar to the students, as Miss P uses local ingredients and local flavours. Her smile is familiar, too. For the students, Miss P's kitchen is a place to check in, to sit a bit, meet with friends, and enjoy a meal together.
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Donnet Simmons has long been our bookkeeper on Bequia, starting when we were still the Bequia Mission, and we've been the better for it. Donnet manages the accounts, receiving funds from our Canadian accounts—the Grenadines Initiative is a registered Canadian charity—as well as from those from our US arm, The Friends of the Grenadines Initiative. She then works with local providers, ensuring payments are made, and local staff, paying salaries.
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Devvy King isn't on the staff of the Grenadines Initiative, but she's a very close and valued partner. She is the head teacher at the Lower Bay School, one of the local schools for which we provide scholarships. The students benefit from her guidance, and we do as well, ensuring that all the students are able to access the program through to graduation. She also is responsible for the teaching garden, including hydroponics, which we've been happy to support providing tanks and supplies
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As Devvy, Sister Simmons isn't on the staff of the Grenadines Initiative, but has been an important partner for many years, including when we were still the Bequia Mission. In her role as nurse she serves the island community with compassion and expertise. Many recall very personal stories of her as a comforting presence during times of illness and emergency. Through her guidance, we've been able to deliver needed equipment and supplies to the Bequia Hospital.
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The voucher program is based on a close collaboration with local stores across Bequia; the proprietors accept vouchers as payment, and keep track of partial payments. They help make sure that everyone gets what they want, and that they are able to access what they need. Vouchers are issued for Knight's, W+W, and, as shown here, Uncle Duff.
| | In addition to educators and volunteers, local businesses and organizations contribute resources and funding to sustain the programs that we run. The people behind the Grenadines Initiative embody the spirit of the commuinty, making a lasting impact on the community. | | |
Find our new brochure at businesses on Bequia and at the tourist information office in Port Elizabeth. If you'd like copies for display, respond to this email or use the contacts below. You can also find the digital version here or download a pdf here.
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