The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) proudly announces the successful completion of the exchange workshop, “Empowering CBOs to Create Positive Transformation in Their Communities,” held on August 13, 2024. This dynamic event, funded by the Inter American Foundation (IAF), brought together grantees from across Saint Lucia to share their innovative approaches to sustainable community development.
The workshop featured a lively panel discussion highlighting the pivotal role of community-based organizations (CBOs) in driving sustainable growth and fostering resilience within local communities. Panelists emphasized the importance of grassroots initiatives in addressing key challenges such as food security, climate change, and economic development and the critical role of government and other partner agencies such as the SLUNCF, GEF SGPUNDP and IICA in creating a reliable support framework.
In addition to the panel discussion, the event showcased creative presentations from 12 local CBOs currently benefiting from the IAF-SLUNCF Cooperative Agreement. These organizations, each with a unique focus, demonstrated their ongoing projects supporting various initiatives, including apiculture, backyard gardening, ecotourism, food security, employment, and the reduction of climate change impacts. The presentations were a testament to the innovative and diverse approaches being implemented at the community level to achieve long-term sustainability and self-reliance.
Equally important was the networking and learning among the grantees. Shem Beroo, President of the Active Youth Movement (AYM) out of Bexon said that “the grantee exchange was a very interesting experience for the AYM. Not only did we see firsthand what other CBO’S were engaged in, but we also got insights on ways we could deepen our community engagement and be more meaningful partner in our community.”
The SLUNCF is committed to supporting and empowering CBOs across Saint Lucia, recognizing their critical role in creating positive and lasting change. According to SLUNCF Programme Officer, Diana Joseph, ‘this exchange workshop served as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspiration, further strengthening the capacity of local organizations to effect meaningful transformation within their communities.’ Currently, 14 CBOs are receiving grants and technical support under the IAF-SLUNCF Cooperative Agreement.
For more information about the SLUNCF and its initiatives, please visit www.sluncf.org or contact [email protected].