Dr. Jonathan Gayles- Black History Month
Dr. Jonathan Gayles, of Georgia State University, received a cultural grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown to participate in Black History Month events in Barbados and Grenada. Audiences in both countries screened his film Scripts and Black Superman: Black Masculinities in American comic books, in which Dr. Gayles examines how racial stereotypes are presented in comic books. In a lecture given at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus Dr. Gayles discussed the threatening way African-American men are portrayed in films, such as “Birth of a Nation,” “Rocky” and “Hancock.” Following his lecture Dr. Gayles led an engaging discussion with the audience about the negative ways African-Americans are depicted in popular media and how that affects the way they are perceived in life. The audience, which consisted of members of the university community and the public, was receptive to Dr. Gayles’ ideas and participated in a lively debate.
EducationUSA Grenada
EducationUSA Grenada received a property grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown. The grant included 33 books about applying to American colleges, such as International Student Handbook 2011 and Gardner’s Guide to Selecting a Multimedia School. The grant is valued at US$1,018.36. EducationUSA Grenada is located on the T.A. Marryshow Community College Campus.
Grenadian Ministry of Social Services
In support of the continued initiative to promote Human Rights, The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded a women’s shelter, through the offices of the Grenadian Ministry of Social Services, a property grant. The Ministry of Social Services received four books concerning domestic violence. The books include When Dad Hurts Mom: Helping your Children to Heal the Wounds of Witnessing Abuse by Judy Bancroft and Men’s Work: How to Stop the Violence that Tears our Lives Apart by Paul Kivel. The total cost of these books was US$60.06.
Grenada National AIDS Council
The Grenada National AIDS Council (GNAC) received a human rights grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown, as part of the Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Funds for 2011. The GNAC used the grant to conduct an HIV/AIDS awareness and education campaign in three rural Grenadian communities. The grant was also used to offer HIV testing and counseling and healthy lifestyle workshops to the communities. Additionally, the funds were used to establish HIV/AIDS awareness groups. Materials and equipment necessary for these projects were paid for by the grant, as well as the transportation costs of outreach volunteers.
Grenada National Trust
The Grenada National Trust received a cultural grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown to host a children’s archaeological program. Through this summer project the children learned basic excavation, laboratory, record keeping, and technical drawing skills. The children also learned the scientific method and how their project fit into the larger historical narrative of Grenada. Hands-on programs such as this spark children’s interest in learning, while providing them with a safe and productive summer activity.
Grenada Public Library
Grenada Public Library was awarded a property grant by the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown. The library received five educational children’s games that are intended to make learning fun for kids. The games included “10 Days in the USA” and “You’ve Been Sentenced.” The grant was valued at US$94.14.
Hands Across the Sea
Hands Across the Sea, Inc was awarded a cultural grant by the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown to purchase non-fiction and reference books geared towards young adults with remedial reading skills. The books were distributed to school libraries in rural or outlying areas in Antigua and Barbuda; Grenada; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Lucia; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hands Across the Sea co-founders, Harriet and T.L. Linskey support Caribbean students by sailing around the region delivering books. In March 2013, MacDonald College received new books, through Hands Across the Sea.
“It’s a Fact”
Vividview received a human rights grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown. The grant was used to produce and create 105 copies of a ten minute animated video about drug resistance and education for the series “It’s a Fact.” In the video Sgt. Carl Williams of the Royal Barbados Police Force teaches primary school children, aged five to eleven, about drugs, drug related crimes, and peer pressure. The funds were also used to produce 3,750 copies of a magazine addressing “Drug Abuse and Resistance Education” (DARE) themes.
Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest
In February 2011 the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown hosted the third annual Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest in honor of Black History Month in the United States. Dareem Antoine of Grenada received a US$450 grant as the prize for his joint-first place essay submission. Naomi Brathwaite received a US$200 grant as the prize for her third place essay.
Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded Naniki Restaurant a cultural grant to support their “Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari” event, which they are hosting in conjunction with the Travelling Guitar Foundation, an American based NGO. The grant will fund members of the Travelling Guitar Foundation’s travel expenses from New Jersey to Grenada. The Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari will provide local music students of all skill levels an opportunity for jazz education through workshops, classes and performances by high profile jazz musicians. The Naniki Restaurant specifically designed their event to introduce vulnerable young people to jazz, as a way of engaging and encouraging them to pursue their interest in music. The event will be held in Grenada April 26-27, 2013.
No Witness, No Justice Training Program
As part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded the Office of the Attorney General a US$55,565.00 grant to support the No Witness, No Justice initiative. The grant funded a training program for teachers and students across the region to teach them how to implement No Witness, No Justice in their schools. Participants also learned to utilize social media to build lasting and effective youth networks. Through No Witness, No Justice Caribbean children learn about citizen involvement, how American youths participate in their communities and how they can participate in their own countries and communities. No Witness, No Justice also serves to build a virtual connection, under the CBSI Youth Network, between Caribbean and American children wherein each can learn about the other’s experiences and communities.
Regional Youth Seminar 2011
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded the Barbados Youth Development Council (BYDC) a cultural grant. The funds were used to pay the travel expenses of six youth delegates, one each from the six OECS nations, to attend the Regional Youth Seminar 2011 in Barbados. The grant was also used to fund the rental of a U.S. Embassy Bridgetown booth at the Youth Expos, the seminar’s culminating event. The youth delegates were selected from organizations such as National Youth Ambassador Corps (Antigua & Barbuda), Dominica National Youth Council, National Youth Ambassadors Programme (Grenada), St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association, RYC and National Youth Council (St. Lucia), St. Vincent and Grenadines Youth Council. The seminar was held August 11-13, 2011.
Roman Rudnytsky
In his support of his trip to the Caribbean, the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded pianist Roman Rudnytsky a cultural grant to purchase his airline ticket. Mr. Rudnytstky travelled to Barbados and Grenada November 7-8, 2010 to perform and meet with schoolchildren. Additionally, Grenadian by Rex Resorts received a cultural grant to pay 50% of the cost of tuning the piano used by Roman Rudnytsky during his performance.
St. David’s RC School
St. David’s RC School, located in St. David, Grenada, received a US$403.20 property grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown. The school received 44 children’s books and books describing the lives and struggles of African-Americans, including When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz-Ryan and The Day Martin Luther King Jr. Was Shot by Jim Haskins. These books were selected in recognition of Black History Month 2013.
Symba Goddard- International Education Week Essay Contest
In keeping with efforts to promote quality education for all, the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded Symba Goddard, through her mother Pauline Goddard, a grant. Miss Goddard earned this US$300 prize by submitting the second place essay in the International Education Week 2010 Competition for Eastern Caribbean students.
Thomas Aquinas R.C. School
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded Thomas Aquinas R.C. School a property grant to improve the school experiences of the students. The school received 87 children’s books, including Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm and We Shall Overcome by Stuart Stotts. Thomas Aquinas R.C. School is located in Petite Martinique, Grenada.
Westerhall Secondary School- No Witness, No Justice
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded a property grant to the Westerhall Secondary School. The school received two iPads, an iTunes gift card valued at US$25, two iPad Smart Cases, and two Apple Care Cost Protection Plans. The Westerhall Secondary School is located in Westerhall, St. David, Grenada. The iPads were given to the school for use in the No Witness, No Justice Project.
Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation
Under the Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Funds for 2011, the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF) a human rights grant to support their efforts to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the region. WINDREF partnered with the Heritage Theater Company of Grenada Inc. and the Ministries of Health and Education engage youths in the fight against HIV/AIDS. WINDREF and its partners created a program through which Grenadian students wrote 30 minute scripts aimed at educating the public about the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Women’s Empowerment Tour- Foreign Press Center
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded Meridian International Center a cultural grant to support the travel expenses of journalists and enable their participation in the Foreign Press Center tour on “Women’s Empowerment.” The tour included meetings with government officials, NGOs, community groups, and media representatives to highlight women’s issues. The meetings were geared towards shedding light on gender based violence. The tour lasted from January 29 to February 4, 2012.
“You’re A Star, Stella!”
In keeping with efforts to expand human rights awareness in the Caribbean, the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown awarded Do the Right Thing Limited a grant to produce a booklet geared towards teaching children about domestic violence and the steps they can take to stop it. Do the Right Thing Limited revised a booklet entitled “You’re A Star, Stella!,” produced by Voice UK, to suit the needs of children in the Caribbean. The booklet tells the story of a young girl who witnessed domestic violence and told her teacher, who contacted the police. Programs such as the “You’re A Star, Stella!” project are aimed at reducing physical abuse throughout the Caribbean.
YWCA Grenada
YWCA Grenada received a human rights grant from the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown, as part of the Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Funds 2011. YWCA Grenada used the grant to distribute packets to local businesses and organizations with information regarding HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention methods. YWCA Grenada also issued “safer sex” packages to members of the public, as part of their mission to lower transmission rates and reduce the stigma surrounding people living with HIV/AIDS.