USVI Hurricane Recovery & Building Forward

We are pleased to share updates with you regarding the USVI hurricane recovery and resiliency projects funded through your support!

Several projects are ongoing, with anticipated end dates throughout 2022. As updates become available on the impact of COVID-19 on planned activities, we will include that information in future reporting.

University of the Virgin Islands (UVI): Environmental Native Fruit Tree Program with a focus on Water and Soil Quality in the USVI  (St. Croix/St. Thomas)

Over the past few months, the grantee has been conducting follow-ups with farmers and individuals who have access to fruit trees related to this project; led water conservation discussions, including drip irrigation, water management, mulching, and rotating crops, with more than 50 farmers; gave out more than 200 packages of papaya seeds to homeowners and producers to increase fruit production; and gave out 200 water filters to homeowners. Time has also been spent educating tree recipients on the growth of trees and ways to deter burning and providing soil test kits and water test kits to farmers and homeowners with helpful videos to help them better understand their need for healthy soil and clean water. The purchase and installation of two water pumps are planned to increase water access to the Bordeaux area for farmers and homeowners who have been given trees. This project is ongoing.

University of the Virgin Islands (UVI): Indoor/Outdoor Campus Recycling (St. Croix/St. Thomas)

UVI started a recycling program on both campuses, but unfortunately, the official launch was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent campus closures. Student volunteers have been helping to move recycling units and put up educational posters around campus, and a cardboard and can bailer have been purchased. Due to the ongoing issues caused by the pandemic, remaining grant funds were reallocated to support the needs of the Sustainability Lab on the St. Thomas campus to further increase sustainability outreach efforts. Funds were used to install a renewable energy system so the entire lab will be off-the-grid, purchase a small demonstration unit and a solar generator kit so that visitors can see different options for their home as well as see and touch the components of a solar energy system, and purchase solar and demonstration kits to help students visualize and understand renewable energy concepts. Grant funds were also used to purchase a compost bin and soil sensors to monitor and collect data on agricultural conditions in the hope of utilizing compost in a small garden and educating students on a more circular approach to food waste and agriculture. The Lab was also utilized for a one-day renewable energy training in June on St. Thomas with the hope that more trainings can be offered in this space in the future for a variety of topics related to sustainability. This project is now complete.

The following projects were recently awarded funding and are getting underway. We will have more detailed updates in our next report.

Love City Strong: Bellevue Community Stakeholder Meeting and Community Center Improvements (St. John)

Funding will be used to provide improvements to the Bellevue Community Center and its partner center located in Calabash Boom, Coral Bay by increasing access to reliable internet, quality technology, and additional seating to better support community meetings, work, and education-related activities for community members.

Women’s Coalition of St. Croix: Empowerment for Today and Tomorrow (St. Croix)

Funding will be used to support a Housing Assistance Program that provides financial assistance to families for rent and utilities and to support a Financial Literacy and Workforce Development Program that teaches personal financial management and job readiness skills.

Community Action Now: Savanaeroes United Phase 2 (St. Thomas)

Funding will be used to further develop and grow the Savaneros United Now group by recruiting two Creole and Spanish-speaking community navigators to do direct community outreach, get more families in the Savan community involved in communal events, and match them to available resources.