June 2023

The St. Kitts and Nevis Clean Seas Project seeks to build and enhance on the coastal clean-up efforts spearheaded by Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) in St. Kitts and Nevis and The Ripple Institute (TRI) in St. Kitts and Nevis under the Clean Seas Program (www.cleanseas.org). This project was launched on Thursday 31st October 2019.  CYEN, St. Kitts and Nevis Chapter and The Ripple Institute aim to mobilise the youth in St. Kitts and Nevis by equipping them with the appropriate tools and training to become active guardians of the coastal areas in their communities through environmental monitoring, tree planting and clean-up initiatives. Some of the project activities include but are not limited to the establishment of a community- based monitoring network, training of youth community members in beach profiling and recreational water monitoring and simple data storage and analysis, the purchasing of equipment and kits for each community to undertake monitoring and clean-up activities, active quarterly monitoring and coastal cleanup activities the creation of a St. Kitts and Nevis Clean Seas website, and complementary activities such as community tree planting days. Additionally, there are many important key organisations that have partnered with CYEN, St. Kitts and Nevis Chapter for the Clean Seas Project such as the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, Department of Environment, Department of Marine Resources, Department of Youth Empowerment and the Ministry of Education.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Backyard Gardening Facebook Group is an initiative by The Ripple Institute SKN and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network. The theme of this initiative is “Greening Communities Through Food Production” and its aim is to increase food security. The objectives of the St. Kitts & Nevis Gardening Facebook Group are to create awareness about Kitchen (Backyard) Gardening (https://www.facebook.com/groups/631055511126237/), promote the growing of fresh and safe vegetables without the use of synthetic pesticides, encourage community bartering of fresh produce and other garden related materials, promote sustainable farming in communities and generate supplemental incomes. By doing these, there will be an improvement in food security, Healthy living through physical activities from garden activities and diet, reduced food waste through conservation and compost, easy access to fresh and safe produce, and a source of income. It is our hope that anyone who demonstrates an interest in gardening and a willingness to teach others about the importance and benefits of gardening, will be a part of our cause. Examples of the type of gardening being practised include: Vegetables/ Kitchen Gardening and Vertical Gardening.