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The Ashley Lashley Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, officially opened a two-day workshop titled “Community-Driven Strategies for Stability and Resilience”, at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites earlier today, September 4.

The workshop is part of a regional project supported by the United States government and aims to strengthen climate resilience by placing decision-making power directly in the hands of communities most affected by climate change.

The initiative began in Grenada last month and will also be carried out in Saint Lucia, with the goal of developing practical toolkits and recommendations for regional governments, while building a network of resilience leaders across the Caribbean.

In her opening remarks, Executive Director of The Ashley Lashley Foundation reflected on the devastation caused by the 2021 La Soufrière eruption and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, stressing the importance of community-driven approaches. She noted that while many Caribbean countries have developed National Adaptation Plans, they often “look good on paper but do not work in reality” because farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth, and persons with disabilities are excluded from the process.

She added that “resilience in the Caribbean is not just about individual nations, it is a collective strength that binds us together,” emphasizing the need for action rather than promises in order to achieve true climate justice for the region.

The workshop continues through September 4, 2025, with sessions designed to capture the lived experiences of those most directly impacted by the climate crisis in Saint Vincent and the wider Caribbean.

SOURCE: The Agency for Public Information (API)