Education

Minister Cummins Tours Inaugural Energy Camp

Energy matters took centre stage last week when approximately 75 children were exposed to the inaugural one-week Energy Science Camp.

The Division of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Business, in partnership with the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology (MIST) the interactive camp for children six to 11 years old. The camp was integrated into the annual MIST Science Camp as a new element for the campers.

Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, visited the camp, at The St. Michael School, and underscored the importance of the initiative. She called on corporate Barbados involved in that sector, to support a bigger camp next year.

“We want…to scale up this camp and make it something that is even bigger in the years to come. So, we’re welcoming the support of corporate Barbados and those, particularly who are invested in the energy space, and I am inviting them to come on board so that we can continue to build this…,” Senator Cummins stated.

In giving the rationale for the camp, the Minister said it was necessary to ensure that the children were a part of Barbados’ energy future.

“We’re using a national energy plan…from 2019, and in many ways that needs to be updated now. It needs to now take us into the next phase of our energy transition, and to solve some of the problems that we have encountered as we have implemented that plan. So that’s what we’re navigating now.

So, for that reason, we…wanted to make sure that the young people can see, feel and touch what the energy future for them can look like, and so the camp really was birthed out of that process,” she explained.

During the camp, the children learnt about wind energy, wind turbines, solar energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, among other areas. They also engaged in various challenges, toured the Barbados National Oil Company Limited, and saw solar and wind farms as they travelled across the island.

Senator Cummins noted that the campers were exposed to various career opportunities available in the energy sector, to allow them to become familiar with potential careers.

“I think that exposing young people to what their options are, by getting them immersed in what is happening in these sectors, is critical for young people…. Energy and energy transition is about bringing people, and in this case young people, along for the journey, and we’re very happy to have been able to do that,” she stated.

The Ministry’s team was assisted by facilitators from Robot Adventures and Relay Education, with sponsorship from Blue Circle Energy; the Barbados National Oil Company Limited; the National Petroleum Corporation; and the Transport Board.

On Monday, August 19, the Ministry of Energy and Business will replicate the week-long Energy Science Camp at the National Summer Camp, at the Hilda Skeene Primary School, Ruby, St. Philip. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, speaking to camper Max Gill as he designs a solar car

Education

NCF CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SCHOOLS LANDSHIP PROGRAMME

The National Cultural Foundation joined with its competition sponsor the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Ltd to celebrate the achievements of the inaugural year of its Schools Landship Programme, at the Awards Presentation on Sunday, July 14^th at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre.

The programme which was rolled out over the last 15 months saw training of over 300 children at 12 schools across the island in Landship performance skills and cultural mores. Chief Cultural Officer of the NCF, Ms. Andrea Wells reminded attendees that the National Cultural Foundation, working in close collaboration with the Barbados Landship Association, has undertaken the task of reviving the cultural phenomenon that is LANDSHIP, a uniquely Barbadian cultural movement which is currently celebrating its 161^st year.

AWARDS

The Awards event featured clips of performances across many of the participating schools and presented top students and teachers with leadership awards, along with certificates and cash prizes recognising excellence in performances in Maypole, Maneuvers, Uniforms and Insignia and Financial Literacy.

While all student participants were not able to be present, each school was adequately represented by its student leaders and their cheering teachers and parents.

In her presentation, Mrs. Gail Niles, the Director of Marketing of the BPWCCUL indicated the company’s commitment to encouraging and celebrating achievement in youth especially in the area of financial literacy. She expressed fascination of the similar histories of that aspect of both the Landship and Credit Union movements and indicated the company’s willingness to work more closely with the Landship towards accomplishing both sectors objectives.

The Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw joined with Mrs. Niles and senior members of the Barbados Landship movement in recognizing and presenting top awards won by the schools:

Among these were as follows:

BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL LANDSHIP

1^st – BLS Sankofa, Deacons Primary

2^nd – BLS Fountainhead, St. Albans Primary

3^rd – BLS Explorers, Holy Innocents Primary

BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL LANDSHIP

1^st – BLS Asantehene, Princess Margaret Secondary School

2^nd – BLS Frederick Smith Vanguard, Frederick Smith Secondary School

3^rd – BLS Garrison, Graydon Sealy Secondary School

Leadership awards were offered to the top 2 outstanding students at each school’s Landship, along with the Coordinating teachers in the programme.

The CCO noted that the most important parts of the Landship model are those aspects that deal with creating and cementing community bonds and generally developing resilience in an unequal and at times challenging world. (PR)

Education

Youth Thrive Through NTI-AI Programme

Twenty-seven young trainees of the Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps (BYAC) stood proudly in the Courtney Blackman Grand Salle at the National Transformation Initiative’s Advance Initiative (NTI-AI) Graduation Ceremony, on Wednesday, August 28.

Parents and supportive stakeholders joined the graduates in celebrating their transformative journey with NTI-AI that equipped them with essential skills for the future. Described as a “lifeline,” the programme has been credited with enhancing their work-life skills, digital proficiency, and communication abilities that will bolster their technical-vocational training assignments at various institutions.

BTI-AI EXPLAINED

The NTI-AI programme, originally called Technical Vocational Transitional Literacy Programme (TVTLP), continues to embody NTI’s mission of empowering Barbadians through diverse learning opportunities. Led by a new team headed by a Special Education Diagnostician and Literacy Specialist, the programme focused on developing both functional literacy and essential skills needed for personal and professional success, enabling trainees to effectively navigate their chosen technical and vocational career paths. It also featured career tours designed to expose the trainees to various sectors, enhancing their understanding of potential career opportunities.

Allyson Murray, NTI-AI Lead Facilitator, commended the trainees, stating, “The site visits provided a tangible link between theory and practice. We saw you apply the instruction in real-world settings, and for us, this was a testament to your understanding and adaptability.”

PROJECTS SHOWCASED

The ceremony also highlighted creative projects produced by the trainees, showcasing their newly acquired skills in video production, content creation, and digital storytelling. These projects were developed under the guidance of NTI partner TAPP Digital Incorporated, reflecting the diverse capabilities the trainees have developed.

NTI also recognised eight exceptional trainees with Samsung Galaxy Tablets as an encouragement to continue pursuing their lifelong learning, not only for their outstanding performance in the programme, but for exceeding expectations by completing the NTI flagship Citizenship Course as well as taking the initiative to successfully complete multiple NTI-Coursera courses.

EIGHT STARS

The eight STARR Bajan awardees included Devon Atkinson, Rolando Cain, Matthew Goodridge, Jaheim Kellman, Kymara Trotman, Sergio Parris, Ayana Griffith, and Demaril Thorpe.

Demaril Thorpe, NTI-AI Class Ambassador, electrified the room as he shared his reflections on the programme, stating, “The NTI course impacted me a lot; it made me a better communicator… People would tell you to chase your dreams, but I was never a fan of that. I’m someone who has a vision, and I believe you should follow your vision… A dream is something you go to sleep and wake up from.” Thorpe’s commitment to the programme was evident as he completed several NTI courses, including Core Skills, Occupational Safety and Health, Personal Financial Management, and Entrepreneurship, in addition to the Citizenship course. He also completed NTI-Coursera courses such as Introduction to Generative AI and Introduction to Large Language Models.

The interactive keynote address was delivered by Dr. Kevin Greenidge, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, who emphasised the importance of setting goals, maintaining a positive mindset, working hard, and giving back. Speaking directly to the graduates about his journey, he said, “You might think that you are there and I am here, and there’s a gulf between us. The only gulf between us is your imagination… Once you can imagine it, you can achieve it.”

Also in attendance were The Hon. Charles Griffith, Minister, Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment and his Permanent Secretary Mrs. Joy Adamson, ; Hally Haynes, Director, Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps; Dr. The Hon. Allyson Leacock, Director, NTI; Mrs. Melissa Nurse-Herbert, BYAC Senior Programme Officer; and Mrs. Markiesha Alleyne, NTI-AI Coordinator.

NTI-AI is a collaboration between the Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps (BYAC) and the National Transformation Initiative (NTI), aimed at equipping young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their technical and vocational programmes and succeed in a competitive job market. The Central Bank of Barbados has partnered with NTI in facilitating the graduation ceremony over the past two years. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Graduands and guests at the National Transformation Initiative’s Advance Initiative (NTI-AI) Graduation Ceremony, recently.

Education

DEM Summer Event For Youth Today In Queen’s Park

The youth will be in focus when the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) hosts The DEM Summer Event entitled: High Winds; Rough Seas, today, Friday, August 30, at Queen’s Park, The City, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Director of the DEM, Kerry Hinds, will officially open the one-day event, while Programme Officer, Simon Alleyne, will make a short presentation on disaster preparedness and management.

The event is targeted at young people between the ages of seven and 21 and is designed to raise awareness about the various hazards that affect Barbados, and the ways in which they can prepare and mitigate impact.

The DEM Summer Event is aimed at engaging the youth in disaster management activities to challenge their knowledge of the different natural hazards.

It is also designed to bring awareness of the dangers of the different hazards that can affect the Caribbean region and equip youth with practical skills to build their household emergency plans, create emergency supply kits and adopt safety measures.

During the day, there will be practical demonstrations from the Barbados Fire Service in fire safety and the use of the fire extinguisher, while the Barbados Water Authority will have a mist station among its exhibits.

Other exhibitors will include the Barbados Meteorological Services, the Barbados Citizens’ Band Radio Association, the Barbados Defence Force’s Drone Unit, the Barbados Red Cross and Sagicor General Insurance. Additionally, there will be novelty games designed to promote disaster knowledge and awareness.

Persons attending the event are encouraged to walk with a change of clothes as it is a water event. (PR/GIS)