Our Projects
2020 – 2021
Project Partners
VEEP with EcoStrategies Grenada Inc
Vetiver grass education and empowerment moves to Grenada, led by Eco Strategies Grenada Inc. with support from IAMovement and Vetiver TT Ecological Engineering Solutions Ltd.
During the period 2020/2021 the small grants programme (SGP) of the global environment facility (GEF) funded a project in Grenada to raise awareness and encourage utilization of Vetiver Grass planted in accordance with The Vetiver System (VS) as a tool to combat erosion and land degradation exacerbated by climate change.
The project aimed to empower community members to use the knowledge gained from a workshop, pilot demonstrations and published documentation to protect their property and environment and to provide the basis of self-employment opportunities by training interested participants in the production of handicrafts, soaps, perfumes, essential oil and root bundles utilizing the by-products (leaves and roots) of Vetiver grass installations.
This project was implemented by Eco Strategies Grenada Inc. and included an educational workshop, which was held from November 16th to 26th 2020 and a virtual presentation – and the installation of pilot demonstration sites at various locations throughout Grenada.
6000 vetiver slips (young plants) were produced and installed throughout the project, in conjunction with Ocean Edge Farm. Some of these plants were donated to worthwhile projects, such as a restoration project in Carriacou undertaken by the KIDO Foundation, remediation of the Perseverance landfill by GSWMA and Mirabeau plant propagation station.
The workshop training and installation of the demonstration sites was facilitated by Mr. Jonathan Barcant of Vetiver TT Ecological Engineering Solutions Ltd and IAMovement – where Vetiver TT working alongside IAMovement developed the first “Vetiver Education & Empowerment Project (VEEP)” for the introduction of vetiver grass and The Vetiver System (VS) at the community level in Trinidad & Tobago. The original Vetiver Education & Empowerment Project (VEEP) model which was successfully completed in Paramin, Trinidad with support from the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme there served as the basis for the idea and concept used to develop the vetiver education and empowerment focused project in Grenada, where IAMovement provided support to Eco Strategies Grenada Inc. in the development of their proposal for activities there.
More can be learned about past and ongoing vetiver education and access opportunities in Grenada through the website: www.vetivergrenada.com
A short film was also produced by IAMovement, shot and directed by videographer Lawrence Dupuis, capturing the vetiver education and empowerment activities under this project in 2020. It is 17 minutes long and called “A Thin Green Line Against Erosion in Grenada”, and can be found below as well as in IAMovement’s Film Room.
Gallery
