Richmond Vale Academy is a non-profit school, focused on training international participants to become Development Instructors and Climate Activists.
Since the start of the school in 2007, about 500 people have participated in the projects.
Richmond Vale Academy is is running a Climate Compliance project for St. Vincent. The goal is to make this small island state into a country that is ready for the effects of climate change by 2021.
The effects are already heavily felt here in St. Vincent. Weather patterns are changing and affecting the farmers, and heavy storms have destroyed quite some of the infrastructure of the country.
There is no doubt that Climate Change will hit the poor the hardest, and it is based on that reality that we train international and local Climate Activists in the 6-months programs.
I have experienced lots of challenging situations in my life and spending March to September at RVA has to be amongst my top 5. I became more open to humanity and how we as a global community have witnessed first hand the destruction and abuse of our beautiful planet Earth. Together all the students and teachers were involved in trying to change what we have all collectively done, and explore better ways to undo the damage and rethink what we as people have been taught.
Top areas of development learning were:
Team work makes the dream work.
Nature has all the answers....day after day.
Less is more ...we don't really need all those material things.
Communication is key....wrong can never be right.
Sharing is caring.
Global vision will make the world a better place to live.
My country is among the most preserved natural country in the world, we are volcanic organic. The RVA has been very instrumental in preserving our natural pristine eco system. Their programs are geared towards sustainability of self and environment in a very challenging time when the globalised activities are not so tolerant of eco friendly ways. I like most the opportunity RVA create for Vincentians... we get to meet new people and share new ideas for our development. We learn and earn a lot from them and I hope RVA continue their successful programs in St. Vincent
My country is among the most preserved natural country in the world, we are volcanic organic...d rva has been very instrumental in preserving our natural pristine eco system...their programs are geared towards sustainability of self and environment in a very challenging time when the globalised activities are not so tolerant of eco friendly ways...I like most the opportunity they create for a better life for vincentians...we get to meet new people and share new ideas for our development...we learn and earn a lot from them...I wish d rva well and continued success in St. Vincent
I was at Richmond Vale in July for the one month climate change program. I learned how to live a more sustainable life and did a variety of work including putting up solar panels, planting trees, and gardening. It was a rewarding month for me. Plus St. Vincent is a beautiful island with beautiful views. Would recommend for anyone who isn't scared to get their hands dirty and love to eat fruit!
They say that time goes by fast when you are having fun. I have to both agree and disagree. I have enjoyed my time at the Fighting Shoulder to Shoulder with the Poor program of course, and I can't even remember all the happy moments I have shared with my teammate and other students and teachers from our little school community. But it's not all about that. These past 18 months have made me experience different things every day.
The first six months taught me to be open minded. I have realised that there is a history I have not been told, which steers the way the world turns today. It was an intensive online study period, which among all the information about worlds economics, globalisation, climate change or health and nutrition taught me to be patient, mainly with myself. The theoretical studies combined together with practical permaculture gardening activities and food preservation actions have prepared me for my time in the field.
Next six months, which I spent working on projects in a Maya community in Belize were a mixture of everything, you name it. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as with our Belize youth group, I have also never felt so exhausted, frustrated, motivated, helpless, optimistic,.... all at the same time. Learning that everyone behaves according to their context, the way they have been brought up and the conditions they live in, was a big lesson for me.
The last six months seemed slow and relaxed compared to the busy time in Belize but yet, they've made everything come together. I have finished studies about the reasons of poverty, passing the last exam was so exciting, but it wasn't the end. I have learned many things but there is still more. Whether it is from interesting conversations, from working in a community garden or through teaching new teams, I have realised that knowledge is a crucial tool which needs to be shared and passed on over and over.
Fun is important, but I believe that it was the feelings of being useful and being able to make a change, however big or small in our complicated world that made my 18 months program fly by. There is still so much more to do but we all have a new paths to go. I have no doubt that Richmond Vale Academy together with Humana People to People Belize had prepared me for a journey which is worth the travel.
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