Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists

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Protecting and rehabilitating critical habitat is key to the health of our natural eco-systems. Mangroves play a plethora of incredibly important roles and are therefore a key habitat Unite BVI has decided to invest in rehabilitating and protecting in the BVI.

FILTERING CAPABILITIES: The dense and intricate root systems of mangroves provide a natural filter from erosian due to rainwater runoff on land, protecting coral from dirt and silt that can otherwise causes death and decay.

NURSERIES FOR OUR JEUVENILE MARINE LIFE: Mangroves are often referenced by marine scientists as the nurseries for the ocean's jeuvenile marine species. Without healthy mangroves, jeuvenile species do not have a safe place to hide while they are most vulnerable to predators. The loss of mangrove habitat affects the ocean's ecosystem health in devastating ways.

PROTECTIVE HABITAT FOR BIRDS: Similarly, mangroves roots and leaves provide protective habitat for a wide variety of sea birds and other land-based coastal species. Many birds nest and breed in mangrove habitats.

CARBON CAPTURE: Studies indicate that, pound for pound, mangroves can sequester four times more carbon than rainforests can, making them incredibly important agents in the fight against global warming and climate change.

COASTAL RESILIENCE: Mangroves are one of the greatest forms of coastal protection for communities that have been built in low laying areas. Their strong root system and (when healthy) dense sheer geographic area they cover can not only protect coastal communities but also provides "Hurricane Holes" where boats can seek protection during storms. Beyond just the protection they offer to humans and human assets, many marine species, sea birds and coastal animals seek refuge in mangroves during storms. Without them, loss of life during extreme weather events can set the health of species populations back by years.

In 2017 the BVI was struck by the strongest Hurricane to ever cross the Atlantic, Hurricane Irma. This category 5 hurricane left catastrophic devastation including the destruction of estimated 90% of the BVI's remaining mangrove population.

This is why Unite BVI has partnered with The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and The HLSCC (Community College) to scale the great work that the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society has been doing to start mangrove nurseries and outplanting programmes around the BVI.

Signing ceremony for Unite BVI's grant to HLSCC to start a mangrove nursery at the college

Rehabilitating Critical Habitat (Spotlight: Mangroves)

BVI Beacon Update, April 2018

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BVI Beacon update, April 2018

Unite BVI believes that supporting entrepreneurs is one of the most effective ways to have long-term, sustainable impact through economic stimulation, job creation and diversification through innovation in the marketplace that builds economic resilience. This is why we support extrepreneurs in the following ways: training, mentorship, coaching and through small business start-up and expansion loan programmes with the best terms you can find! (No interest, no collateral or down-payment necessary and customized repayment terms). We also have provided grant funding for trade skill development programmes that equip under and unemployed individuals with employable skills for relevant local job markets.

To read more about our Kickstart BVI 2020 Loan Programme click here.

Unite BVI, entrepreneurship, Richard Branson

Kristin Frazer of Trefle - 2016 Loan Awardee & Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin

"I’m proud to introduce the KickStart BVI Small Business Loan programme. Our vision is to financially empower and support social entrepreneurs in the BVI so that they can contribute to the region’s social, cultural, environmental and economic development." - Richard Branson

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The importance of education in the recovery was highlighted so brilliantly in Sam Branson’s video, with a touching story of young girl setting up a school in her own home after Irma.

Help, Hope and Hurricanes

Over the course of Unite BVI's history we have remained committed to our belief that investing in our next generation by supporting the enrichment of education and youth empowerment is one of the greatest ways we can have a positive impact. Prior to Hurricane Irma we supported education initiatives like buying computers for the local library on Virgin Gorda, building an early childhood education resource centre at a public elementary school, donating towards impactful youth programmes like the Youth Empowerment Project on Tortola, repairing playgrounds and hosting youth forums where youth could be inspired by world changers and community activists.

After Hurricane Irma the majority of schools were structurally damaged and so with generous donations received to help the BVI recover Unite BVI was able to rebuild the only secondary public school on Virgin Gorda, The Bregado Flax Educational Center (BFEC). A hurricane reslient new high school building was constructed consisting of 12 classrooms, a new septic system with 10 bathroom stalls. And In 2020, solar panels will be installed demonstrating what is possible with clean energy technology.

With the support of generous donations from guests of Necker Island, the BFEC's school's playground has also been repaired, picnic tables have been donated, a shaded area for students to have lunch and assembly has been designed to protect students from the sun, musical instruments and science equipment have been donated, the school garden has been enriched, recycling bins have been set up and computers have been donated.

As part of a larger collaborative of donors, Unite BVI has contributed to over 1,000 Chromebook computers being donated to The Ministry of Education for the benefit of high school students and teacher's across the BVI. Teacher training has been funded so that these technological resources can be embraced in such a way that leads to the enrichment of educational delivery.

On Jost Van Dyke, Unite BVI partnered with the Soggy Dollar Bar & Restaurant to donate a nanogrid library and media resource centre (powered completely by wind and solar) for the benefit of the public school during school hours and the community outside of school hours. The nano-grid tech capabilities of this centre were designed to be able to double in function so that should another natural disaster affect the power infrastructure on the island, the community would have a resilient source of power.

We have continued to provide funding to the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and Mentoring Anointed Leaders Everywhere (MALE), two fantastic youth empowerment organisations in the BVI. These grants have enabled them to enhance their engaging youth programmes, purchase mini-buses so that they can expand their reach across the BVI and take their youth members on field trips, offer psychosocial support services, has helped build a computer lab for YEP and fund the professional development of youth leaders at the NPOs. Over the years we have supported youth programmes that scan a broad range of focuses from enriching literacy skills such as Write to Read, to learn to swim and scuba dive programmes, to archery, to tennis lessons and games for youth on the autism spectrum.

These are just a few of the many various investments we have made in our next generation through enriching education and youth empowerment opportunities.

BFEC high school students standing in front of their roofless school

Rebuilding BFEC Secondary School, Virgin Gorda

After the devastating hurricane season of 2017, Unite BVI invested grant funding to support disaster risk reduction and community response and resilience training. Team Rubicon UK, a disaster response charity that built an impressive reputation in BVI whilst working with local and international partners and the local community in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Irma, delivered a series of disaster preparedness, response and managment trainings in 2018 funded by Unite BVI. This training was offered free of charge to local non-governmental organisations and community groups and individuals to help them best self-organise and be prepared to respond effectively in the event of another disaster. As Unite BVI acknowledges that capacity building is very important for the resiliency of the BVI, we also provided funding to support an NGO coordinated effort, in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management and The Rotary Club, to train CERT teams (Community Emergency Response Training) in 13 communities across the 4 main islands in the BVI.

Read more about our education work here.

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Rehabilitating Critical Habitat (Spotlight: Mangroves)

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BVI Beacon update, April 2018

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Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists

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