The European Union through the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) Programme has earmarked €1.3 million to benefit 14 schools across the territory under the BVI SMART Schools project.
The BVI SMART Schools is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports (MEYAS) and the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) and is being expanded with support from the RESEMBID Programme.
The €1.3 million according to a media release from DDM is the total budget of the two-year initiative which aims to make schools across the territory safer, healthier, and greener.
“The project has conducted comprehensive school assessments, provided essential guidance to individual schools, and initiated campus community emergency response training, strengthening preparedness within these educational institutions,” DDM stated.
Jasen Penn, Director at DDM, emphasized the initiative’s role in fortifying schools against the challenges posed by climate change. He stated, “RESEMBID’s financial support has facilitated a partnership to enhance our efforts at improving student safety and fostering a culture of resilience.”
Penn also highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating, “What our students and teachers are learning prepares our wider community for greater resilience, which ultimately means a more prepared Virgin Islands.”
Edward Turvill, Senior Programme Manager – Resilience at RESEMBID, commended the focus on schools and students, emphasizing that education is the bedrock of change. He praised DDM and its partners for their comprehensive approach, stating, “It shows that through this type of public-private partnership, BVI has the persons and tools to address some of the most challenging issues surrounding resilience and climate change.”
DDM also revealed that the latest phase of the BVI SMART Schools project which it spearheads, not only strengthens the existing partnership with MEYAS but also integrates the expertise of Green VI, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the BVI Red Cross, which aim to reshape the BVI’s education infrastructure with resilience at its core.
Schools participating in this iteration of the BVI SMART Schools initiative include Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Alexandria Maduro Primary, Joyce Samuel Primary, Bregado Flax Educational Centre Primary and Secondary Division, Francis Lettsome Primary, Leonora Delville Primary, Ivan Dawson Primary, Ebenezer Thomas Primary, Enis Adams Primary, Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary, Willard Wheatley Primary, Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary and Elmore Stoutt High School.