As part of efforts to advance the National Food Security Drive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) and the Farmers Support Company (FSC) collaborated earlier this month on a visit to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College – Division of Technical Vocational Education (SVGCCDTVE) and got a first-hand look at the final stages of the Agricultural Programme, specifically the Poultry production; which included the slaughtering and packaging of chickens. The chickens, (approximately 100 chickens) were a donation to the institution through the National Food Security Programme in January this year.  

The visit was two-fold as the college to opportunity to “pay it forward’ and donated some chickens from the programme to the ZHTF Golden Years and Nutrition Support (GYNS) Programme.  A few students accompanied the ZHTF team to donate several chicken packages to GYNS beneficiaries in communities in close proximity to the college. Thirteen beneficiaries recieved chickens from the initiative.  

Dean of the Technical College, Mr. Osburne Bowens said over the last 9 weeks “instructors and students took care of the birds and was now ready to slaughter,” and mentioned that the directorate at the College decided that it would be a ‘good collaboration’ to hand over some of the chickens to the ZHTF as part of supporting the organization’s mandate. Bowens thanked the ZHTF for their contribution towards the students’ development within the Animal Health Programme as it allows students to obtain hands-on experience.

Lecturer of the SVGCCDTVE, Sabrina Murphy-Bascombe expressed elation upon receiving the donation earlier this year and sees the contribution as a plus, where students can gain knowledge in poultry production and transitioning into a business at the end of their tenure. Bascombe indicated that the gesture not only benefited students at the College but students of the Union Island Secondary School who were displaced after Hurricane Beryl. 

Chief Executive of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique emphasized that the donation of birds to schools doing Agriculture Science was a priority. The CEO was evidently overjoyed to be able to collaborate and give back through the support of several beneficiaries of the GYNS programme. She expressed that the initiative is inspired and home that collaboration would be continued and encouraged more community involvement in the mission to Zero Hunger in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.