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De Blue and Green Gully Project
DeBaGG is an environmental project. Our goals:
YEA! Gordon Walters Primary School
YEA Conference
Bay Primary Sustainable Farm Model (Dave Brathwaite)
Fresh Food for All (BarbadosToday)
YEA! Barbados Impact.
Global Entrepreneurship Week: Teachers Fostering Entrepreneurship
High-Level Officials Tour USAID-Funded Junior Achievement Program
Gordon Walters Primary Garden Project
USF Program Pairs Students with Teachers and Mentors (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Are you obsessed with opportunity, innovative, resourceful, and an excellent teacher and mentor?
Those attributes mark a successful entrepreneur, according to Michael Fountain, director of the University of South Florida Kauffman Entrepreneurial Internship Program.
Fountain, also director of USF's Center for Entrepreneurship, served as master of ceremonies at the April 25 USF Kauffman awards luncheon.
He offered this entrepreneur definition: "An individual who searches for change, responds to it, exploits ideas and actually looks at situations in terms of opportunity without regard to resources which they currently control."
Ewing Marion Kauffman created the Kansas City, Mo.-based Marion Labs pharmaceutical company and endowed the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. It states its mission as developing and implementing strategies to support youth development and entrepreneurship.
The foundation selected USF in 1998 as one of 20 universities and colleges in the United States to receive funding. As part of its Kauffman program, USF pairs master's in business administration student interns with local companies.
MBA students and hosting-intern companies recognized at the luncheon include:
? Orlin Jordanov of Bulgaria, who is joining the staff of his host company, Modelithics Inc. The company resides in the USF technology incubator and specializes in microwave characterization and modeling.
? Dr. James Thoene, an MBA candidate and emergency medicine physician, who is joining the staff of host company Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., also located in USF incubator.
? Sean Lux, an intern at DTNet Wireless Computer Networking Inc. in Tampa;
? Jason Lippa, an intern at Stonehenge Capital Corp. in Tampa;
? Delana Barney, an intern at H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute;
? Bradford Levangie and Joshua Foote, interns at University Community Hospital in Tampa;
? Liliana Lizarralde, an intern at the USF technology incubator.
? Kevin Brown and Nicole Mack, who were hosted by the USF Institute for Excellence in Life Sciences Entrepreneurship program;
? Adam DeMicheli and Daniel Scott, who were hosted by Computer Mentors Inc. in Tampa.
Marsha-Ann Clarke is program director at Computer Mentors and was a 2000 Kauffman intern.
Kauffman provides a special opportunity, said Clarke.
"It's the only course through the MBA program where you get the critical skills you need because you are one-on-one with the CEO (chief executive officer) or another top person in the organization," she said. "You don't get that anywhere else in the MBA program at USF and I would daresay at many other universities."
Tech tension
The recent "Bridging the Digital Bay" event was a success, but the April 24 International Trade & Technology Business Showcase disappointed participants.
That was the general feedback at the April 26 St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Technology Council meeting.
"Lack of foot traffic" was the Business Showcase critique offered by Randy Wadle, CEO at NetWise Technology Inc. in St. Petersburg.
After wall-to-wall attendance at meetings before the Digital Bay event, turn out was sparse at the April 26 council meeting. One factor cited was the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce Technology Forum meeting held at the same time.
Chamber leaders said they would talk to Clearwater leaders and float the idea of Pinellas County economic development officials hosting yet another technology committee in the middle of the county.
The St. Petersburg chamber's technology Web site implementation is next on the council's agenda.
Patrick Stirling, account manager at Constellation Technology Corp. in Largo, is developing the database reporting information. Stirling said Constellation initiated the idea for an areawide technology, industry and manufacturing e-chamber Web site.
Tech waters
DataGlyphics Inc. in St. Petersburg and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission redesigned the commission's Web site, floridamarine.org. The site offers a feature called "My FMRI" where visitors can choose from more than 25 marine-related research categories.
Bank Backs Junior Achievers (Barbados Today)
More students throughout Barbados stand to further develop and practise their entrepreneurial skills as Junior Achievers through the investment and support of a leading financial institution.
That’s because CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank is sponsoring Junior Achievement in Barbados with a presentation of $10,000 to the Junior Achievement Charity of Barbados at the bank’s Rendezvous offices.
The bank has sponsored the JA programme at the Grantley Adams Memorial School where funds will be used to train volunteers and teachers to help facilitate the programme; provide JA kits and materials; facilitate relevant field trips; as well as provide seed money for companies started by students.
The bank’s staff will also serve as “magnets”, guest speakers on specific topics at Grantley Adams and other schools as needed. With its investment, CIBC FirstCaribbean becomes a JA Champion, giving the youth organisation the flexibility over three years to make a substantial impact in a variety of areas at the school.
Executive Director of Junior Achievement, Marsha-Ann Clarke, said the news of the sponsorship was enthusiastically received by teachers and students at Grantley Adams.
“Between six to nine teachers immediately signed up for training which starts today so our resource pool has already been expanded thanks to CIBC FirstCaribbean. Also teachers and students alike are working round the clock, motivated by this support. It’s a contagious energy that comes from knowing they are being supported by a private sector investor who believes in youth.”
In thanking the bank for its contribution, the Clarke said: “Now more than ever Barbados, the region and the world needs partners like CIBC FirstCaribbean involved in positive youth development, specifically entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness for survival in the continuing tough economic times. Their support could not have come at a better time.”
Clarke noted that the bank’s sponsorship would be even more impactful because of a matching grant provided by USAID, a worldwide sponsor of JA.
“This means that USAID will match each dollar given by private sector partners like CIBC FirstCaribbean.†The bank’s sponsorship is timely because it allows us to double the investment made by USAID.”
FirstCaribbean’s Barbados Country Head, Mark St. Hill, said: “The bank has been a keen supporter and partner with Junior Achievement in youth development for a number of years on multiple levels. We believe in their vision, what they do, and in the success the programmes continue to achieve. We look forward to the continuation of our partnership and to the empowerment of youth in Barbados in entrepreneurial development.”
St. Hill also noted that FirstCaribbean had supported Junior Achievement in countries across the Caribbean since 2008 as well as on a national level.
Agriculture's business side taking Agrofest spotlight (NationNews)
AGRICULTURE AS A BUSINESS will be pushed to children again at Agrofest next year.
“If we can at least engender good business practices among young people who are involved in agriculture at a very early age, it will help,” said chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, yesterday.
“Very often when we talk about agriculture, it is viewed from the background of our parents, how they did it, rather than today’s world in terms of how it is being done,” he added.
Paul was speaking to students of Gordon Walters Primary School
in St Patrick’s, Christ Church, who took the top three spots in last year’s oral competition in Agrofest.
Again this year the BAS has partnered with Junior Achievement to host the Agrofest competitions to give children a greater appreciation of the business of running an agricultural venture. In addition to the oral, essay and poster competitions, there will be a treasure hunt which will focus on enhancing the oral skills of the students.
Paul encouraged other schools to participate in the various aspects of the competition.
Director of Junior Achievement, Marsha-Ann Clarke, said they had coined the term “Agripreneurship”, which was taught to the children. (LK)
UN WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2015’S THEME REACHES TWO ST PHILIP SCHOOLS (Bajan Reporter)
oth the Hilda Skeene and Ellerton Primary Schools recently received some important visitors…
The United Nations Development Project or UNDP funded an initiative with US$150,000 towards building organic gardens, merging the science and business of agriculture and facilitate sustainable livelihoods through agri-businesses at 30 schools across Barbados. Cash and in-kind contributions from the private sector are needed to match this investment in youth and the environment.
The Youth Development Programme conceptualised “The Garden Project” in 2010 and has supported its evolution to REAP. This is in keeping with the National Youth Policy, which has identified “The Environment” as one of the key strategy areas for youth intervention and seeks “To get young people involved in educational projects to demonstrate the importance of environmental protection in Barbados.” The Division of Youth has invested in this project and is supporting the initiative to install rainwater catchment tanks at each school.
The Caribbean Youth Environment Network has also pledged their support in sharing knowledge on environmental preservation with youth.
Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre (SBRC) has pledged contributions of mulch to the project.
Eastern Caribbean Fertilizer (ECF) has contributed pre-planting soil-testing to the project and will test soil again to educate youth on the positive impact that organic agriculture has on the environment.
St, Philip Businessman, Allan Simmons of Simmons Electrical has committed to approximately $15,000 worth of work to “green” the Hilda Skeene Primary school by installing a rain water capture tank for irrigation and non-consumable purposes.
The 4-H Foundation pledges to ensure sustainability as the REAP project comes to a close by launching a strong 4-H club at schools involved in the project. This way the partners ensure the youth continue to grow in knowledge of “agripreneurship”.
Youth Equipped to Achieve! (YEA!) has also supported the project and has been approved to apply for up to BD$100,000 from the GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by the UNDP to implement REAP at Secondary Schools from next term.
On Saturday June 6, 2015 celebrations continued as St. James Primary took the spotlight at Limegrove. Students of the St. James Primary showcased the drip irrigation system developed from recycled plastic bottles and ice-cream containers used as planters for their organic produce.
Head Boy of St. James Primary Thalma Mahmud explained how a pin controlled the flow of water into the container with support from his team of Cedella Corbin, Tafari Agdard and Leah Marshall. These very knowledgeable young people explained to onlookers how a simple cloth wick drew water into the soil as needed for plant growth so that you can leave your plants and go on vacation and not have to worry that they are getting water. One onlooker commented on the fact that the students’ planter was also better than typical planters because the water was sealed from mosquitoes.
Dominica Convenes Workshop Targeting at Risk Youth (Dominica Vibes News )
Junior Achievement Dominica in collaboration with Youth Empowered to Achieve (YEA) Wednesday convened a one-day System-Wide Collaborative Action for Youth Livelihood Workshop (S.C.A.Y.L workshop) focused on youth empowerment and in particular, youth at risk.
YEA, a registered charity organization in Dominica and Barbados started in Tampa Florida in 2003.
The workshop, held on 28 January 2015, saw participation from representatives and stakeholders from education, juvenile justice, NGO’s from the religious community and other leaders who play an active role in the lives of young people.
“The workshop is about bringing together the whole system in a room to look at how we can collaborate to move forward and to address the issues of youth together,” president and chief executive officer of YEA, Marsha-Ann Clarke informed.
Noting that across the region there is the common issue of youth at risk, Ms Clarke said “a lot of individuals and a lot of agencies are doing really great programs to address the issue, but with limited success because no one agency has all the resources needed to make a large scale impact”.
Marsha-Ann Clarke President and CEO of Youth Empowered to Achieve (YEA).
She informed that they are now in the process of action planning as three projects came from the workshop.
“The task forces are identified and what we will do in the next three months and what we will do in the next three years to bring those to bring those plans to fruition”.
“We have created a vision of what we want for Dominica around the issue of at risk youth and we are moving towards that,” Ms Clarke continued.
Meanwhile Major of Roseau Irene John said this SCAYL approach “has undoubtedly boosted the confidence of the participating stakeholders”.
“The action plans developed here today are evidence of a real and tangible commitment to creating the desired for our youth,” Mrs John stated.
“Too often we plan for the youth without stopping to ask them a question, too often we focus on the process not the outcome, too often we look at what we want to achieve ourselves and not what we can do together,” Mrs John added.
Thus, she said, the workshop did not focus on conflict resolution but on common ground; “we have seen and heard the youth and the system around them”.