AWE Project Graduates 21

A number of Vincentians are now better equipped to effectively manage our delicate marine and coastal ecosystems. On Thursday June 21st at the Sunset Shores conference room in Villa a group of 21 persons made up of Vincentians and Grenadians graduated from the At the Water’s Edge (AWE), Coastal Resilience for SVG and Grenada’ project.

The project sought to develop the leadership skills of the group and put them in a better position to help fight climate change and other environmental issues. It was also noted that the training received during the nine months course demonstrated that small island states governments and communities can enhance their resilience to climate change by protecting, restoring and effectively managing their marine and coastal ecosystems and by strengthening local capacity for adaptation.

Delivering the keynote address at the graduation, Director of National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority, Andrew Wilson advised the group to do their best to put in practice what they have learnt and also to share their knowledge.The graduation ceremony also heard from Director for the Eastern Caribbean Program of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Ruth Blyther and Nacy Graff also of the TNC. Blyther and Graff can be considered founders of the AWE project.

It was noted by Blyther that the project started on December 2nd 2011 with 21 participants chosen from 60 applicants from a number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). She said that it is important that persons have ability to protect the environment.

During the nine months of training, participants learnt about different leadership styles and how to work with different personalities. Participants were also asked to display leadership skills by stepping out and doing something out of the ordinary as they were given the opportunity to put in practice what they were learning. The participants were also taught about lateral thinking and communications skills.  They also had to keep a journal and attend meetings directed at climate change issues.

It was noted that the AWE project is now expected to soon move into Phase Two. Phase Two will seek to implement climate change projects put together by the graduates. Each graduate was asked to put together a project and a number of these projects (not all) will be given EC $15,000 that must be used to implement the project.

The graduates are also expected to work with the members of other NGO’s. One of the projects submitted locally is directed at cleaning up the Stubbs waterway while providing educational awareness on climate change matters. The entire project is being funded by the TNC.


Source of article:
The News
06/07/2012
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