Thirty-five young Vincentians are better prepared to pursue careers, enterprise and further education in agriculture and the wider food system after completing six weeks of hands-on experience with 21 host organisations in agriculture and the wider food system through the Zero Hunger Trust Fund’s Youth Agriculture Science Internship Programme (YASIP) 2026. Their achievements were celebrated at a closing ceremony held on 25 August 2026 at the NIS Conference Room in Kingstown.
Of the 38 interns who began the six-week programme, 35 successfully completed their placements, a completion rate of more than 92 per cent. Interns worked with 21 host partners drawn from businesses and organisations across agriculture and the wider food system.
YASIP is a flagship youth-development programme of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund that strengthens young people’s participation in agriculture and the wider food system through practical work experience, mentorship and career exposure. By connecting classroom learning with workplace realities, the programme helps participants develop technical and transferable skills and explore pathways to further education, employment, entrepreneurship and national service.
Reflecting on the programme’s wider purpose, Director / CEO Safiya Horne-Bique urged the cohort of interns to regard YASIP as the beginning – not the end – of their engagement with agriculture.
“See it as the beginning of a relationship – with work, with responsibility, with opportunity, and with the future of agriculture and food security in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Horne-Bique.
“YASIP is one of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund’s flagship youth programmes because it gives young people an opportunity to test interests, discover abilities, build discipline, learn from experienced practitioners and understand what the workplace actually asks of you,” she explained.
A two-day study tour broadened the interns’ exposure to host organisations beyond their assigned placements. Interns based at the organisations visited also shared what they had learned and experienced with their peers.
Acknowledging that participants may have encountered challenges during the programme, Horne-Bique congratulated the cohort for persevering and reminded them that setbacks are also part of learning and professional growth.
“Those experiences are also part of the education. Growth does not only happen when everything goes smoothly. Sometimes growth is learning to communicate better, to accept correction, to take initiative, to persevere, or to recognise that a particular path is not the right fit for you.”
Speaking on the impact of the programme, Horne-Bique noted that several interns earned CSEC Agricultural Science passes ranging from Grades I to III. A number of participants also received offers to remain engaged with their host partners through paid employment, volunteer service or other opportunities.
“Those numbers tell me something important: YASIP cannot end at exposure. Our responsibility is to help turn exposure into pathways – examination success into further education, curiosity into career commitment, practical experience into employment, and good ideas into enterprise.”
Horne-Bique further emphasised the important role young people must play in transforming agriculture and strengthening national food security.
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines needs young people who are prepared not only to look for opportunities, but to create them. We need young people who can see a problem and imagine a solution; who can turn local produce into new products; who can use technology to improve production; who can communicate agriculture differently; who can build businesses; and who can bring new thinking to old challenges.”
During the ceremony, ZHTF introduced its “10 For 10 Youth in Agriculture” spotlight, recognising ten interns who demonstrated exceptional promise: Abigail Lavine (Eco Home Gardens), Amouri Browne (Bu-te-ful Plants), Shantel Richards (Sunshine Valley Farm), Nathaniel Nanton (St. Vincent Cocoa Company), Tryston Balotje (Valley Farms), Jahaziel Garraway (Sunshine Valley Farm), Deon-Jay Baptiste (St. Vincent Cocoa Company), De’nise Jacobs (AGRISS SVG), Ameilia Alexander (AGRISS SVG) and Omari Frederick (Superior Farms).
Jahaziel Garraway of St. Vincent Grammar School received the CEO’s Award for Most Outstanding YASIP Intern 2026 after completing his placement at Sunshine Valley Farm in Clare Valley.
ZHTF also expressed deep gratitude to the SVG Conservation Fund for partnering on YASIP for the third consecutive year. “Thank you for investing with us in youth opportunity and sustainable food systems,” Horne-Bique said.
SVG Conservation Fund Project Officer Audwin Andrews delivered remarks on behalf of Executive Director Kenrick Chambers. Andrews welcomed the achievements of the 2026 cohort and said the organisation looked forward to continuing its support for YASIP in 2027 and beyond.
Speaking on behalf of the 21 host partners, Eco Home Gardens owner Bernadette Richards-Duncan reflected on the value of exposing young people to real workplaces across the food system. ZHTF thanked the host partners for helping to develop the next generation of agriculture and food-systems professionals, and acknowledged the interns’ parents and guardians, government ministries and agencies, and other programme partners for their support.
