Young musicians in the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) are set to take center stage with new percussion instruments and accessories following the provision of musical equipment valued at over $35, 000 EC, made possible through support from the Sandals Foundation’s Caribbean Artisan Programme. The investment strengthens ABYSO’s youth music programme, expanding opportunities for young performers while advancing music education and creative arts development across Antigua and Barbuda.
“We are committed to nurturing Caribbean youth through the creative arts. Music is not only a powerful tool for personal development but also as a thriving cultural industry capable of generating livelihoods, expanding national economies and elevating the region’s voice on the global stage,” says Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s composers, producers, educators and global performers carrying Caribbean culture onto the world stage.”. By investing in programmes like ABYSO, we are helping young musicians refine their talent, build confidence and see viable futures within the creative industries.”
Through weekly lessons, rehearsals and performance opportunities, ABYSO provides young people with mentorship and structured training in orchestral music while fostering discipline, teamwork and creative expression.
“The sustainability of the ABYSO is dependent on the support of corporate partners and donors. This donation of instruments from the Sandals Foundation has not only impacted our musician’s ability to continue their training, but it has provided us the opportunity to continue our outreach program in several schools in Antigua and on the sister isle of Barbuda. Being able to provide these opportunities directly link to our vision of maintaining a sustainable and inclusive programme where any young person with an interest in learning, the instruments can do so”, Managing Director of ABYSO Claudine Benjamin shared.
With the new instruments now in hand, the programme will deepen its engagement with schools, introducing students at Pigotts Primary, Potters Primary and Holy Trinity School in Barbuda to introductory instrument instruction while creating pathways for emerging musicians to progress into ABYSO’s junior and youth orchestra programmes. The initiative also includes a teacher-training component aimed at strengthening the capacity of music instructors, ensuring that orchestral music education can continue to grow sustainably across the island. Together, these engagements expand the reach of music education while cultivating a vibrant pipeline of future Caribbean musicians.
For McKuelan Morris, percussion coordinator within ABYSO he shared, “The percussion instruments we received were not only timely but greatly welcomed additions to our percussion section. As we continue to develop our young musicians the complexity of the music deepens. Having these instruments at our disposal now allows us to strengthen the depth of our sound with the rest of the orchestra while giving the opportunity to the percussionists to learn several percussion instruments simultaneously and for this we are immensely grateful.”
The Sandals Foundation has long championed youth engagement through music across the Caribbean. In The Bahamas, its support has strengthened programs such as the Exuma Community Youth Band and the LN Coakley Music Programme in Exuma. In Jamaica, the Foundation has supported the Skyliner Marching Band, delivered specialized brass music education workshops with Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, and invested in the island’s renowned Alpha School of Music—collectively nurturing the next generation of Caribbean musicians and preserving the region’s rich musical heritage.
The recovery across hardest-hit communities post Hurricane Melissa is being measured not only in cleared roads and repaired buildings, but in something far more personal — the return to work.
For spaces where agriculture, fisheries and small enterprise form the backbone of many rural districts, efforts to restore livelihoods is not simply about rebuilding businesses - but restoring the systems that feed communities, circulate income locally and preserve the cultural traditions that shape everyday life. Facilitating that return to work for breadwinners has been a major focus of the Sandals Foundation’s Recovery Mission.
Through partnerships with public agencies, corporate partners and community organizations, the philanthropic organisation has mobilized some JMD 10 Million Dollars in monetary and in-kind support to help restore income-generating activities in Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth.
For micro-entrepreneurs — including cookshops, corner shops, artisans and roadside vendors — recovery has required rebuilding both structures and supply chains, to achieve long-term resilience.
Working alongside the LASCO Chin Foundation, targeted support has been delivered to 20 small business operators—equipping them not just to reopen, but to rebuild with strength and stability. Through the provision of building materials, restocked supplies, essential equipment, generators, lighting systems, and specialized start-up kits, these entrepreneurs are regaining their footing, restoring their income, and reclaiming their place at the heart of their communities.
For Vashmore Campbell, a cookshop owner in Belmont, Westmoreland, cooking has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. He recalls standing beside his grandmother in her kitchen from the age of five, learning the rhythms and flavors that would eventually inspire him to open his own seafood cookshop overlooking the sea.
Before Hurricane Melissa, guests would gather at his restaurant to enjoy fresh seafood, take in the ocean view and relax on an over-water swing while waiting for their meals. But after the storm passed, almost everything was gone.
“The hurricane left only the bar standing,” Campbell said. “But cooking has always been my passion. Seeing people enjoy the food I prepare brings me joy. I’m grateful for the building materials because now I can rebuild — bigger and better — and go back to serving my community.”
Also in Belmont, wholesaler Delbert Rodney feels renewed hope with the delivery of key supplies that have enabled him to resume support to approximately 20 surrounding shops.
“That day [Hurricane Melissa) was a terrible one for me. I lost stock and parts of the building, and all I could think about were the people who depend on this business — my family, my staff and the shopkeepers I supply. The help I received has lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders. It means I can get back to supplying the smaller shops and keeping the community moving again.”
Support has also been extended by the Sandals Foundation to artisans and small producers whose work contributes to the cultural and economic fabric of their communities.
For 41-year-old straw artisan Omar Daley, basketry is more than a livelihood — it is a craft passed down through generations. “I learned this from my mother. Basketry has been part of our heritage for centuries, and today we are reimagining it to create handbags, home décor and other pieces that showcase Jamaican craftsmanship.”
When Hurricane Melissa struck, Daley lost materials, finished items awaiting shipment were halted and electricity to power his workspace was lost. Now, the installation of solar energy by the Sandals Foundation has allowed him to return to work.
Moved to tears during the solar energy infrastructure installation, Daley expressed deep gratitude.
“Now I can start making crafts again and prepare for an international showcase in New Orleans, USA that will elevate my business and bring Jamaican craft to the world stage,” he said. “It also means my children can go back to learning at home with electricity.”
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation says restoring livelihoods is one of the most important steps to regaining stability.
“After a disaster, communities cannot fully recover until people are able to earn again. Whether it is farmers returning to the land, fishers returning to the sea, artisans returning to their craft or entrepreneurs reopening their businesses, restoring livelihoods helps bring stability back to families and hope back to communities.”
Additional livelihood support of the Sandals Foundation include its partnership with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) distributing seedling trays, germination mix and seeds to some 150 farmers in Westmoreland to enable them to begin replanting crops and restore vital local food production. Within the fishing sector, efforts focused on restoring safe access to fishing grounds and stabilizing operations. Working alongside The Fisheries Division, RUBiS Energy, RAPID TrueValue and volunteers, debris was cleared from boats, gasolene, ice igloos, and generators were provided, and key access points at Fisherman’s Beach and surrounding fishing villages were opened, allowing fishers to safely return to sea.
As rebuilding continues across many areas, the gradual return of economic activity is already beginning to reshape the recovery landscape.
Because when livelihoods begin to move again, communities move with them.
The ocean has come ashore. The University of the West Indies (UWI) Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML) and the Sandals Foundation have partnered to launch an immersive marine ecosystem hallway — the first of its kind on Jamaica’s North Coast — transforming a traditional corridor into a living journey through the island’s underwater worlds.
From the depths of the deep sea to vibrant coral reefs and intricate mangrove forests, the installation features live aquaria, large-scale 3D marine species models, authentic coral skeleton displays, and research footage captured by UWI DBML divers along Jamaica’s north coast.
Valued at over JMD $4.2 million the investment also supports the facility’s wider outreach and education programme, providing upgrades to the Lab’s conference room with new furnishings to enhance the visitor experience, display screens for interactive learning, and modern retractable projector screen.
Speaking at the launch on Monday March 16, Dr. Camilo Trench, lecturer and academic coordinator at the UWI DBML says the project has been a lifelong dream to enhance the educational experience at the Lab. “The Hallway is an indication of our commitment to conservation and continued education in Marine Sciences. We aim to bring the sea and its diverse inhabitants closer to the curious minds of all ages. The features, adaptations, and nuances of these species are excellent teaching tools for STEM learning and inspire human thinking and innovation. We are thrilled that the Sandals Foundation afforded us the resources to fulfil this ambition.”
Interactive learning stations along the hallway have been strategically installed to deepen environmental education, allowing students to explore biodiversity through sight, sound, and touch to understand ecosystem connectivity, examine threats facing marine environments, and discover how they can help protect ocean health.
For Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, the project aligns with its mandate to nurture a sense of stewardship in the young. “Our oceans sustain livelihoods, protect our coastlines and support the natural beauty that defines the Caribbean,” Clarke said. “When young people are able to see and experience these ecosystems up close, they begin to understand just how vital they are to our future. This immersive hallway helps make that connection real. It allows students to move beyond textbooks and encounter the living systems that surround our island, while inspiring them to see themselves as guardians of the environment.”
Highlighting the importance of the space in advancing STEM education, Technical Development Officer at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information for Region 3, Dr. Latoya Morgan Smith, “When students explore coral reef health, analyze water quality, study marine biodiversity, or examine the impacts of climate change on coastal communities, they are not simply learning science, they are applying STEM to solve real problems affecting our island, the Caribbean region and the world. This space… will allow young Jamaicans to encounter science not as an abstract concept, but as a living exploration of the natural world.”
Kiandra Greyer of Discovery Bay Primary and Infant School described the experience with excitement. “I was amazed by the lionfish. It has so many spikes, colors and fins! Seeing all the marine life made me realize how important it is to protect the ocean. Without the corals and the different sea animals, we wouldn’t have the beautiful island we are supposed to have.”
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more than 600 million people worldwide rely on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods, while over 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for food security and economic survival.
Here in the Caribbean, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) reports that at least 3 million people rely on fisheries for their livelihoods, while coral reefs generate an estimated US$3.4 billion annually through tourism, fisheries, and coastal protection.
As climate change, overfishing, and other human pressures intensify, the immersive hallway positions education as a powerful first line of defense — equipping the next generation with the knowledge, awareness, and sense of responsibility needed to safeguard Jamaica’s marine resources.
“A lot of our students are absorbed in the hospitality industry and so I am very excited for this.” The sentiments of a beaming Principal at Wycliffe Martin High School, Evorine Henry-Tracey as she shares the importance of a recent $3-million renovation of the Home Economic Department that has been completed by the Sandals Foundation.
Located just about 2.5 kilometers outside of St. Mary’s capital, Port Maria, the predominantly male population of Wycliffe Martin High are beneficiaries an inclusive learning approach that focusses on skills and professional development.
“To help meet the needs of our students, we focus on vocational areas even as we prepare them for 6th form, higher education and a place of work. We are part of the tourism belt so the Home Economics Department each year is oversubscribed,” says Principal Henry-Tracey.
For approximately 6 years, the department has been in disrepair, forcing a 50% reduction in the number of students that could be facilitated. Now, students of the 2025/2026 academic year will be able to complete their practical training in an industry-like environment.
“The whole internal space has been refurbished. One of the major problems we had was serious termites which would have damaged cupboard spaces. We have gotten rid of all the pests, fumigation has been done, all the tiles have been replaced. The space is better organized, in addition to the paint and electrical work, we have a refrigeration section and an extractor fan to help minimize the heat in the space. And we have new glass windows and steam tables that can also be easily cleaned.
For Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, the support forms part of the philanthropic organization’s commitment to youth education and skills development.
“To facilitate the academic growth of our young people, it is important that they are provided with the resources they need to explore and learn. The renovation of the Home Economics classroom will, we hope to strengthen the teaching-learning process, enabling students to sharpen their skills to confidently take their place in hospitality- an industry that is boundless in the opportunities it presents.”
The improved infrastructure now enables up to 40 students to be facilitated in their studies. A welcomed feat of Principal Henry-Tracey.
“Far more students can now do the subjects and get the practical experience. Senior students being prepared for the world of work - they will now be in a modern space that will look more or less like where they will be working soon. The upgrade has significantly improved what we are able to offer our students.”
