The project’s overall goal is to empower communities to apply practical knowledge of green
technologies to best meet the need of local circumstances. This goal is directly related to the
GEF target for the demonstration and transfer of low carbon technologies at the community
level. The project’s outcome offers a means for livelihood improvement and the emergence
of grassroots leadership capable of inspiring the emergence of the next generation of
leaders in energy efficiency and climate change resilience. The project tactically focuses on
knowledge sharing and science education so as to build the adaptive capacity of
communities and their children to actively and constructively contribute to the success of
infrastructural and technical responses at the national level. Project components include
(1) practical skills demonstration and training of a small?scale aquaponics system for the
Guanapo community (2) three?day train the trainer workshop of nine facilitators from
Guanapo to assist design of lesson plans and share knowledge gained from aquaponics at a
Children’s Discovery Workshop (3) a two week Children’s Discovery Workshop (4)
Discovery Workshop Open Day and a (5) two?day Proposal writing and Project Leadership
training sessions to increase the capacity of NGOs/CBOs to work in GEF focal areas.
At the centre of this project is a small?scale DIY aquaponics educational system that can be
easily replicated and links clean technologies to sustainable, resilient social and ecological
systems. Aquaponics is a method of organic food production where fish provide the
nutrients for plants to grow and the plants in turn purify the water for the fish. However,
the opportunity to provide a food source safe from potential contamination, up?scale the
project to supplement food supplies and contribute to household earnings are tremendous
additional benefits.
The project design is hinged on a good understanding of community specific dynamics and
the pedagogical skills for creating the conditions for learning and innovation among persons
of varying age groups and depressed socio?economic conditions. A major project output is a
two?week long Children's Discovery Workshop. Children (5?16) from Guanapo and the
home work centre at the University of the West Indies After School Care Centre (ASCC) will
be targeted to demonstrate a bottoms?up approach in which inquiry based learning will
stimulate the emergence of ideas and innovation as well as encourage community
participation. Science lessons will be shaped around aquaponics for inquiry?based lessons
integrating water chemistry, energy efficiency, aquaculture and hydroponics. The UWI
Department of Chemistry and Aquatic Health Unit will combine expertise. NIHERST has
informally expressed interest in assisting with workshop activities. The involvement of
these institutions will ensure that at project close?out, project results will continue to be
embedded in a much wider cross section of communities in Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, a workshop Open Day and grant Proposal Writing and Project Leadership
training sessions for GCEDO (open to other CBOs and NGOs) will be presented to strengthen
pursuit of projects in GEF focal areas and help communities move their ideas forward for
funding. Project results documented as video recording and draft papers to Governmental
bodies hope to increase the number of local polices influenced (energy, education,
environment, food security) as well as increase the likelihood of sustained project results.
The project duration is scheduled for 17?18 months at a total project cost of $ 592,280 TTD.
The total GEF SGP request is $ 299,580 TTD/USD$47,553.00