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Sailors For Hope Announces Scholarship for BVI Islander

Sailors For Hope is proud to award a scholarship for Maritime Training at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The scholarship provides a tuition grant of $5,500.00. Jahkeem Tuckett from Tortola, who was one of four local applicants, was selected to receive this year’s grant.

Marine Professional Training (MPT) serves as a pivotal learning platform for entry into the BVI Marine Industry. It offers internationally accredited certifications alongside workplace apprenticeship learning. Participants convene at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Marine Center.

Woodworking Basics

The seventh installment of the MPT Programme commences on October 3rd, with a cohort of twelve participants. Over a 10-week period, students will study various aspects of the marine industry, followed by an 8-week apprenticeship with local marine businesses. Throughout the program, students receive a salary of $8.00 per hour.

The curriculum is structured into ten modules, with each week focusing on a new module designed to develop and refine specific skills essential for marine professionals. These skills are benchmarked and certified by local, regional, and international agencies.

Students learn the basics of rigging a sailboat.

Participants also benefit from presentations by various guest professionals and practitioners, as well as training aligned with the International Convention on Standards of Training.

Funding for these scholarships is made possible through generous donations to the Sailors For Hope General Fund.

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Sailors for Hope Supports Haitian Health Foundation

 

 

KEEPING OUR PROMISES

Here at HHF, our values of respect, honesty, compassion, and commitment are reflected in all our activities. As always, we promise to continuously work towards the well being of children, women, and families to promote good health in their communities. We promise all our donors and supporters that HHF will use their generous donations for their intended purpose.

 

Sailors for Hope is providing $2000 from it’s General Fund to support the work  of the Haitian Health Foundation.

HHF brings healthcare services, education, and sustainable development to a population of over 250,000 people in over 100 rural mountain villages in Haiti.

Haiti now faces a humanitarian catastrophe:

  • Armed gangs have taken control of much of the country.
  • Fuel, medicine, food and other essentials are nearly impossible to find.
  • With little clean water and a lack of sanitation, cholera is resurging.

Many in the country are starving:

  • Although malnutrition has always been endemic in Haiti, it is now approaching famine – comparable to countries at war.
  • The food that is available is extremely expensive.

The population is living in fear:

  • Crime and brutality are a daily threat to families struggling to survive.
  • Most banks, stores, and schools are closed due to the curent socio-political unrest.
Despite these problems, Haitian Health Foundation continues to provide healthcare to a growing number of patients as more people flee the cities for the countryside and as more charitable organizations close due to the increasing challenges.
To date, HHF has had no trouble from protests, looting, or violence. We are
a trusted neighbor ~ people know that we deliver on our promises.
They’re still so much to do, but HHF continues to change lives ~ one person at a time.

Please help. This link will take you to directly to the HHF website where you can donate.

Thank you
Donald Makowiecki
President
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Local BV Islanders Graduate from Marine Training Programme

 

This past summer, two BV Islanders Recaldo Noel Jr and Shakudo Pickering graduated from the Marine Professional Training program at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Both men received full scholarships from Sailors for Hope and the Stanley Blaxton Foundation.  Noel and Shakudo were hired immediately out of their apprenticeship programs into Full Time employment into the Marine Sector.

Sailors for Hope congratulates Recaldo, Shakudo and all of the other graduates for a job well done.

Below is a letter, which we received the other day from the Marine Professional Training programme manager.

 Good morning Don,

Sincere thanks for your very kind support of Marine Professional Training (MPT) Level 1.

I’m very pleased (actually quite proud) to update you on Recaldo Noel, Jr and Shakudo Pickering, the MPT L1 Cohort 4 candidates sponsored by Sailors for Hope this past Spring 2022.

Both were hired immediately out of their Apprenticeships into Full Time employment in the Marine Sector.

This is precisely the outcome that I look for with our MPT L1 programmes- namely, that candidates are exposed to workforce opportunities, and employers have the chance to audit potential hires for entry-level roles in the marine industry.

As an update:

  • Recaldo is working F/T at Nanny Cay on their Marina Team.
  • Shakudo is working F/T at BVI Yacht Charters with their Technical Department.

What’s more, each of these young men has added to their workload a Community-based Part/Time engagement, fitting our Blue Economy model for resilient ecosystems and robust economies:

  • Shakudo works 10 hours / week for HLSCC’s Mangrove Nursery, assisting in the care and maintenance of mangrove seedlings as part of HLSCC’s coastal resilience initiative to protect our shorelines and juvenile fish habitats.
  • Recaldo was one of 5 MPT candidates that were hand-picked as instructors for Kids and the Sea (KATS), a cherished youth focused NPO that has been in the Territory for over 30 years.

Here is a lovely short video produced by one of our instructor trainers which features Recaldo (aka ‘Junior’) in a typical day at KATS: KATS Video by Cara Brown

Don, your support makes all the difference in these young people’s lives.

MPT Level 1, Cohort 5 is due to begin in January 2023. We are currently inteviewing candidates for enrollment and scholarships.

The MPT programme has attained tremendous fidelity in the BVI Community. For 12 spaces on Cohort 5, we’ve had over 40 applications!

Thank you to Sailors for Hope by helping our MPT candidates get their careers off to a great start!

With kind regards,

Matt

Matthew Holt | Marine Programme Manager

Centre for Applied Marine Studies (CAMS)P.O. Box 3097  |  Road Town, Tortola, VG1110  |  British Virgin IslandsMain: (284) 852-7000  |  Direct: (284) 852-7225  | mholt@hlscc.edu.vg  | www.hlscc.edu.vg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Providing Bottled Water to Primary Schools in the BVI

 

Sailors For Hope is proud to anounce a grant of $5000 to Clean Water BVI. The funds will be used to provide bottled water to five primary schools in the British Virgin Islands. These schools have been without drinking water since hurricane Irma devastated the BVI in September 2017. The schools are Willard Wheatley Primary School, Francis Lettsome Primary School, Alexandrina Maduro Primary School, Ebenezer  Thomas Primary School and The Home Away From Home Pre-school all located in Tortola.

Clear Water BVI has generously agreed to a reduced rate for this service.

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Sailors For Hope Providing Scholarships for Locals

Sailors For Hope Provides Scholarships for Two BV Islanders

Sailors For Hope and the Stanley Blaxton Foundation are proud to have sponsored two scholarships for Maritime Training at the H. Lavity Stout Community College in Tortola. Each scholarship consists of a $5,500.00 tuition grant. The recipients are Recaldo Noel and Shakudo Pickering both from Tortola. Noel and Pickering were among five locals to apply.

Marine Professional Training (MPT) is a gateway learning platform into the BVI Marine Industry. It is comprised of internationally accredited certifications as well as workplace apprenticeship learning.

The participants meet at the H. Lavity Stout Community College Marine Center or participating businesses for two months, all day, each day.

Classes for the fourth installment of the MPT Programme begin on February 21st with a cohort of twelve participants. Students study various aspect of the marine industry for 8 weeks and apprentice (on-the-job-training) with local marine industries for 8 weeks. The students receive a salary of $8.00 per hour for the duration of the program.

The program consists of eight modules. Each week a new module is presented to develop and refine specific skills required for successful marine professionals. These skills are benchmarked and certified through Local, Regional and International Agencies.

Modules include the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Essential Navigation and Seamanship (ENAS); Basic Safety Training; Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology (electrical, engine, electronics and plumbing); Fiber Glassing; Woodworking; Swimming and Water Safety; Customer Service; US Sailing Basic Keelboat Training; Watchkeeping for Seafarers training and Discover Scuba.

The participants benefit from presentations from a number of guest professionals/practitioners as well as receiving training through the International Convention on Standards of Training programme as well.

The funding for these scholarships was made available through generous donations to the Sailors For Hope General Fund.

 

Stanley Blaxton Foundation is a educational support foundations located in Chesapeake Virginia USA.

Sailors For Hope is a non-profit all-volunteer organization dedicated to fundraising for individuals and community projects impacted by natural and ecomomic disasters in maritime environments.

 

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Hurricane Dorian Relief

Hurricane Dorian Relief.

Please support the relief efforts in the Bahamas after the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian.

 

 

Dear Friends

By now we have all seen the photos and videos of the total destruction in the Bahamas caused by hurricane Dorian. The destruction is every bit as bad as that caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria two years ago in the Leeward Islands. Based on what we have learned from these terrible hurricanes and how best to respond to them, we suggest that you avoid the many go-fund-me sites and contribute directly to the NGO’s who have the equipment and resources to be effective.

We were particularly impressed with Convey of Hope based in Springfield Missouri. They were on island early after Irma providing necessary medical supplies, portable food kitchens and trained personnel. They have the resources to move quickly with necessary relief and remain for the long haul.

Another organization that is already in the Northern Bahamas and serving meals to families in need is World Central Kitchens. WCK is flying in meals from their kitchen facility in Nassau and has establish a relief kitchen in Abaco with a second in Grand Bahama coming soon.

Please consider donating to either of these organizations or other non-government relief organizations as the most effective way of helping those in need.

If you prefer to donate through Sailors For Hope, please donate to our General Fund and we will insure that all donations go directly to those groups on the ground providing direct aid to those in need..

Sincerely
Don Makowiecki
Sailors For Hope
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K1 Britannia Foundation opens Mini Libraries

Mini Libraries are now open to the public! 
 
K1 Mini Library

K1 Britannia Foundation with the help of over 17 volunteers have built and assembled four mini-libraries that are currently located at the Emilio Wilson Park, John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg, Rupert Maynard Community Center in St. Peters, and near the Belvedere Community Center. 

K1 provides books for kids.

Take a book, leave a book.

If you’re looking for a new book, wanting to learn a new language or need to keep your children busy, you can stop by one of our little libraries and see if there are any books that may be of interest. 

There’s a flip side to this. You must leave a book! 

So if there are any books at home that you believe that someone else can enjoy, feel free to put them in any of the four libraries. 

Love, 
K1 Britannia Team 

For more information about K1 Britannia Foundation Apprenticeship Programs or to donate  click here.

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Charter Yacht Society Supports BVI Youth Sailing

Charter Yacht Society supports BVI Youth Sailing

During the BVI Dinghy Championships, we welcomed Charter Yacht Society Executive Director, Janet Oliver to meet the young sailors and present a cheque to the Youth Sailing Programme.

Ms Oliver explained to the sailors that the CYS is committed to supporting the future generations of sailors as many of the captains and crew grew up in sailing programs just like the Royal BVI Yacht Club’s.

Each registrant at the Charter Yacht Show, held in November at Nanny Cay, whether they are a broker or crew is a contributor to the fundraising effort.  The CYS support reflects their dedication to ensuring the passion and discipline of sailing is passed on to the young people of the BVI.  “Many of you sailing here today may be the charter yacht professionals of the future” explained Ms Oliver “and our members are proud to support the early years of your journey.”

Thank you CYS from all at the Royal BVI Yacht Club!

$490 of $5,000 raised

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Donation Total: $25.00

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Youth Sailing in the BVI

From the 2018 Commodore’s Report

JANUARY. A Hugh moment… the first youth sailing class after hurricane Irma.

As 2018 draws to a close, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the RBVIYC over the past year.  The sailing community is an incredible family throughout the world and we are enormously grateful for all the contributions that have helped us get back on our feet since the events of September 2017.

Our youth sailing programme is returning to it’s former glory with active classes, watersports camps and racing activities.  Toby McCullough joined the team from Northern Ireland in July, thrown in at the deep end to a busy summer of camps he is now running a maxed out after school and Saturday programme.

None of this would be possible without hard work and dedication to raise funds for new equipment, repairing equipment and keeping the faith in our young people.

It is a huge honour to acknowledge the generous contribution of one of our founder members, Mr Peter Haycraft, who enabled us to purchase seven of our new boats (four Optimists and three RS Fevas).  At our annual awards this year, Mr Haycraft was awarded the Roslyn Griffiths Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Club which goes just a small way to expressing the appreciation of the club and our young sailors.

We would also like to recognize:

Manhattan Yacht Club – Optimist ‘Liberty’
West End Yacht Club – Optimist ‘Loyalist’
Quiz Night – RS Feva ‘Quizzical’

Nanny Cay, Doyle Sails, B+G, Conch Charters, Gene’s Bar and Grill, Golden Hind Chandlery, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Fresh Mango, the Charter Yacht Society, O’Neal and Mundy, TICO, Road Town Wholesale, Kyle Roose, Sam Childs and Sailor’s for Hope and all the individuals who have given donations, their time and their energy.

The new RS Fevas have proved to be an excellent addition to our fleet, loved by kids and adults alike so we are looking forward to really putting them through their paces in 2019…..

Season’s Greetings and fair winds for 2019.

Giles Wood, Commodore

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K1 Britannia Foundation Adds Apprenticeship Programs

K1 Britannia Foundation announced two new apprenticeship programs to help secure jobs for Island youths.

Following Irma, it has been a challenge to secure jobs for our youths. There are relatively few jobs currently available on the island. The biggest job markets for youth are in construction and repairing of boats. To help address these needs, we have set up two apprenticeship programs.

For more information about K1 Britannia Foundation Apprenticeship Programs or to donate  click here.