SHOWCASING STUDENTS IN THE AGRICULTURE SCIENCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME AT THE DIVISION OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, ST. VINCENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
18-year-old Carlisha Gibson is a resident of Yambou, St. Vincent. She is currently a final year student at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), Division of Technical and Vocational Education (DTVE) where she is pursuing her studies of AAS Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship. She is also currently on attachment at the Fisheries Division located in Kingstown.
She is a young agriprenuer that has been involved in Farming activities from as early as 5-years-old. Carlisha is the owner of Addie Bee’s Plantain Fries and in the future, she is hoping to see the brand ‘Addie Bee’s’ on not only the local, but also regional and international markets with different lines of product using local farm produce in new and innovative ways.
One of the major requirements for this program was to create a product/service. Addie Bee’s Plantain Fries was not only developed for a school project but to also minimize the amount of plantain wastage taking place in her family business.
She also stated that while she was growing up the only French Fry that has been made available to the market is the all famous potato French fries that are imported, so she also took this opportunity to introduce a new variety of French fry to give more options to consumers.
Message to youths
There is little, or no employment opportunities present here in St. Vincent due to the population and diversity in a workplace. Hundreds of students graduate from college each year and most of them are not fortunate enough to get a job. So, the way in which she sees agriculture is that it provides food, and everyone has to eat.
Choosing AAS Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship did not only teach her the main concepts of farming but also helped her to develop a product from raw materials grown on a farm to earn a living.
Achievements
• She graduated from the Mountain View Adventist Academy Secondary School with seven (7) subjects.
• She was accepted into the AAS Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship at DTVE.
• Brought a new taste to the table with Addie Bee’s Plantain Fries.
Her favourite quotes:
• “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston S. Churchill
• “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” — Bill Cosby
Acknowledgements
Carlisha expresses sincere gratitude to her Mother: Adwen Bennett, Step Father: Alton Bennett, Siblings: Anthony & Kenna George (Developers of LinkUp), Dexwyn & Kimon Stephens) and Lecturer: Ms. Michker Edwards.
VIA Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry & Fisheries – SVG