The JEMS Progressive Community Organization of Enhams is partnering on various projects with a team of researchers from Wake Forest University (WFU), in North Carolina, USA on multiple projects mainly along the south-east mainland corridor. The formal launch will be held on August,1 in the vicinity of the Stubbs Primary School. A Knowledge Reparations Project, a Climate Risk Perception Survey, and a tree planting project in communities to enhance the biodiversity and food security on the southeast of mainland St Vincent are among the projects being undertaken.
The Wake Forest team has also partnered with JEMS on a Study seeking shelter workers’ perceptions of multi-hazard risks around the time of the volcanic eruptions of 2021. These activities are part of the JEMS “Food for Life Development Initiative” in commemoration of the organization’s 45th Anniversary this year.
The partnership activities between the South-east Development Organisation (SEDI), JEMS, and the Wake Forest team are part funded by the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (WFU). The Wake Forest Team includes Vincentian Professors Rowena Kirby-Straker and Leslie Straker, as well as Professor Crystal Dixon, 12 students from the university, and a member of the university’s administrative team.
Through the research initiative, more than 200 households from the communities of Stubbs, Enhams, McCarthy, Victoria Village, Carapan and Calder Ridge will share their perception on the impact of climate stressors in the communities. The data collected through the research will be analysed and shared with communities across the country to build their resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The activities will build on previous work undertaken by JEMS in 2022, which enhanced the capacity of in excess of 200 community leaders to the north and north-east of the mainland, on the impacts of climate change, the development of participatory risk mapping strategies and sustainable livelihoods “Research shows that as the globe continues to get warmer, the impacts of climate change on small island communities will worsen. Therefore, we aspire through this partnership to institute innovative programmes to enhance the capacity of people and their communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change” stated Dr Andrew Simmons, Director of Sustainable Development, JEMS.
On Tuesday, August,1, 2023, Emancipation Day, JEMS will launch the initiative to mark the partnership with the Communication Department of the Wake Forest University at the entrance of the Stubbs Primary School from 3. pm. There will be brief presentations from Dr Andrew Simmons, Dr Rowina Kirby-Straker and Professor Crystal Dixon of Wake Forest University. The presentations will be followed by drumming by Naked Roots and pan music by the Southeast Steel Orchestra.On Wednesday, August,2, members of JEMS and the team from Wake Forest University will collaborate with residents of Stubbs and Diamond to plant fruit trees in their communities, and on Friday, August 4, they will collaborate with residents of Enhams and McCarthy to plant trees in these communities. The general public is invited to participate in these conservation activities.
