editor

Carmette’s Story

by Glen Herbert “We call it the Big Rock,” says Carmette Gooding, “but it’s the only rock.” She recalls jumping off of it into the surf when she was growing up on Bequia. “We’d wait for the biggest wave to come, then we’d jump in it. When the wave was breaking. We loved that, IContinue reading “Carmette’s Story”

Look for the helpers

In the wake of 9/11, Fred Rogers took to the airwaves to talk to children about when something catastrophic happens. Speaking as much to the adults watching as to the kids, he said “always look for the helpers. Because if you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope.” You, me, people all aroundContinue reading “Look for the helpers”

Monelle’s Story

by Tylisha Miller and Elizabeth Zook Four years ago, a dishevelled five-year-old girl came to The Learning Center by herself and said “Please Uncle Ray, Can I come to the Learning Center?” Her sly smile won his heart and his welcoming presence won hers. Monelle was half way through kindergarten but she did not know herContinue reading “Monelle’s Story”

Why do we go to school?

The most important reasons aren’t always the ones you think of first by Glen Herbert “It’s very Harry Potter,” says Michael Simmonds, chuckling a bit as he does. I was speaking to him about what Havergal College does best, a school in Toronto where he is vice principal. Havergal is one of the foremost girls’Continue reading “Why do we go to school?”

Gabby’s Story

by Glen Herbert Gabby Ollivierre’s first real experience of snow came with a freak storm that hit Calgary on October 2. It was notable by anyone’s standards–the storm made national news in Canada–though especially for someone from the islands who had yet to get a proper pair of boots. When I met her at theContinue reading “Gabby’s Story”

Why we love the Junior Sailing program and why you should too

From soup to nuts, the Junior Sailing Academy Bequia (JSAB) is a prime example of what people can do when they pool their talents and resources, producing something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Through structured education and training, the JSAB aims to promote sailing skills and career development for youthContinue reading “Why we love the Junior Sailing program and why you should too”

Off to school

Lauriel Stowe wants to be a volcanologist. “We had a geography class,” she says, recalling some years ago, “and [the teacher] was talking about plate tectonics, and I really found the topic interesting.” She did some of her own research and, among other things, learned that there is only one working volcanologist in St. VincentContinue reading “Off to school”

The sargassum crisis

An initiative taken jointly with Action Bequia may be one of the first steps in addressing the problem. It certainly won’t be the last. By Glen Herbert “This may be the worst algal bloom in the history of mankind on earth that we’ve ever seen,” says George Buckley, a professor of the Harvard University ExtinctionContinue reading “The sargassum crisis”

Cherrylyn’s story

For nearly three decades, Sister Glynn has been the face of care, providing essential services to the youth of Bequia By Glen Herbert “I love my work because I get to meet people directly,” says Sister Cherrylyn Glynn. “It’s one-to-one. I do counselling, I get to meet the families.” For the bulk of her careerContinue reading “Cherrylyn’s story”

Kadeen’s story

“On Bequia, if you tell someone that you are going to be a pilot, they don’t believe,” says Kadeen Hazell. “They think it’s just talk.” He feels that’s true for most people on the island: they don’t have a sense of real possibility. Kadeen, from early days, clearly wasn’t most people. Growing up in PagetContinue reading “Kadeen’s story”