Local NGO Hand2Earth hosted a Project Achievement Event in Troumaca to recognise participants who completed its training programmes and to acknowledge the support of its funding partners, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the SVG Conservation Fund and the Sandals Foundation.
The event celebrated the achievements of community members trained in Vetiver Systems Technology, vetiver craft and heritage tour guiding. Nineteen Certificates of Achievement were presented to graduates, while eight micro-grant awards were also presented to support community-based initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.
The event was attended by Dr. the Hon. Kishore Shallow, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development; Kenrick Chambers, Executive Director of the SVG Conservation Fund; Dr. Resa Noel-McBarnett, Head of the UWI Global Campus; Fitzgerald Providence, Chair of the SVG National Trust; and Ike Abbott, Sandals Foundation Ambassador, among other community partners and supporters.
Building on a Legacy of Sustainable Agriculture
Hand2Earth has been working in the North Leeward area since 2022, primarily using Vetiver Systems Technology to address land erosion, restore agricultural land and strengthen sustainable farming practices.
A major focus of the organisation’s work has been the restoration of the vetiver contours forming part of a 100-year-old agricultural system in Troumaca. Through the project, Hand2Earth has also transformed a leased six-acre Vetiver Agri-Heritage Site into an educational and community resource.
The site is now recognised as a globally important vetiver-based agri-heritage system and represents one of the most extensive land-conservation projects of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
At the heart of the initiative is the return of this legacy of sustainable farming to the community — enabling residents to learn from, protect and take pride in their agricultural heritage while creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Achievements Across the Community
Hand2Earth’s work has been made possible through four small grants, including three grants being recognised at the achievement event and a fourth awarded through the GEF Small Grants Programme in 2024.
Since 2022, the programme has achieved:
- 77 farmers trained in Vetiver Systems Technology across seven villages.
- 63 farm sites established with Vetiver Systems.
- 15 vetiver nurseries installed.
- 37 people trained in vetiver craft.
- Seven people supported to become certified tour guides.
- 40 community tours conducted.
- Five tour events hosted for international visitors.
- More than 400 households reached through Hand2Earth’s work across North Leeward.
H2E has also developed a Vetiver Agri-Heritage Coastal Trail hike, accessible by sea and land, that culminates at a vetiver‐thatched Heritage Hut and showcases indigenous flora and fauna, soil‐conservation techniques, traditional farming, cassava processing, craft production and coastal restoration.
These achievements demonstrate how environmental conservation can be integrated with community education, cultural heritage, regenerative tourism and sustainable economic opportunities.
The Power of Community
Hand2Earth attributes these accomplishments to strong teamwork and an inclusive approach to community engagement. The organisation has focused on deepening the impact within the North Leeward communities to achieve a proven model for scaling across the country.
The organisation’s local team has been trained in Vetiver Systems Technology, allowing knowledge and practical skills to remain within the community. This has helped create what Hand2Earth describes as a growing “Vetiver Family” — a network of farmers, craftspeople, guides, community members and partners working together to protect the land and build on its agricultural heritage.
Two key areas of achievement have been the organisation’s training and community education programmes, alongside the integration of agri-heritage and sustainable livelihood creation into project design.
The Project Achievement Event in Troumaca provided an opportunity not only to celebrate certificates and grants, but also to recognise the wider community effort behind the work: restoring the land, preserving a unique agricultural legacy, developing new skills and creating pathways for future generations to benefit from the heritage of North Leeward.
