GARD Center Resource Page
Have you visited the GARD Centers Resource Page recently? It has a new look and we are adding new links regularly. If you dont see links to a topic that interests you, let us know - we are always ready to provide the information you need.
Visit it by clicking here: http://doc.gardcenter.org/
Camp GROW 2012!!!
Planning is currently underway for Camp GROW 2012 ! If you are interested in volunteering your time to our planning committee or making a monetary donation to help fund this year's activities, please contact Rachel Hall at rhall_gardc.org or call 463-4121.
Upcoming Backyard Gardening Course
Are you interested in developing a back yard garden that will meet all your needs including not only food production but also beauty and diversity? See more...
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Makes Generous Donation!
The GARD Center is currently building its capacity to become a Youth Business Trust for Antigua and Barbuda. See more...
The Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center (GARDC) is a leading training facility, targeting youth and women providing positive entrepreneurial and employment alternatives.
Winner of the Inter-American award for the participation of women in Rural Development 1998-99, in international public recognition of the important contributions to the development of agriculture and to improving the quality of rural life.
GARD Center is an ecumenical program of The Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)
Background
The Gilbert's Agricultural & Rural Development Center (GARDC) is located on the historic Gilbert's Estate in Antigua and Barbuda in the Eastern Caribbean. The property is owned and managed by the Trust of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean & the Americas (MCCA).
The GARD Center evolved as an entity from a two year pilot project which was implemented in 1989 as a collaborative effort amongst the MCCA, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)/Canada Training Awards Project (CTAP), and the Government of Antigua-Barbuda.
The mission of this pilot project was to train young people in practical agriculture and to demonstrate and promote farming as a worthy and viable occupation. This mission evolved from CIDA/CTAP's recognition that the average age of the Caribbean farmer was 50 years, and it was apparent that the younger generation was not selecting agriculture or its related industries as an occupational choice.
Farming unfortunately was viewed by many young people as drudgery, high risk and not a viable means to increase one's standard of living. With this reality in mind, a collaborative partnership was formed involving:
Because of the success of the two-year pilot project, the MCCA and the project management saw the need to broaden the objectives of the project and establish a full time training and rural development center. As a rural development and training center, the GARD Center has responded to changing trends as it tries to prevent a threatened drop in the standard of living. Since 1993 the Center had offered agricultural and enterprise training to youth between the ages of sixteen and thirty since 1993. In 1996 the Center began targeting the training of unemployed and low-income women. This training focused on life skills and entrepreneurial skills with specific emphasis in the use of natural resources in agriculture and other forms of rural enterprises. It is with this background that the GARDC has developed it pace setting-programs as an effective response in targeting youth and women in an effort to improve their welfare and standard of living and to address and ensure their continued development and sustainability. It is in this context, through the mechanism of the MCCA, that GARDC was created as a social investment in people.
Facility
The GARDC in December, 2002 moved into new and spacious headquarters just a few hundred yards down the road from our previous home, the Gilbert's Ecumenical Center. Our new facilities are located adjacent to the GARDC Demonstration Farm which is still situated on 5 acres of the Gilbert's Estate.
The headquarters now house an administrative office, an air-conditioned conference room that accommodates up to 50 persons; classroom/boardroom for small meetings and sessions
up to 15-20 persons; a documentation and resource center which houses ten (10) computers with Internet access and provides data base searches, publications on the environment, agribusiness, entrepreneurial development, international conventions and trade agreements, agricultural production and other topics; CD's, videos, newsletters, periodicals, pamphlets and books.
The Center has available audio-visual equipment for rent to groups and organizations.
Mission
To build a premier enterprise development facility rooted in the agricultural and rural sectors that caters to the training and personal development needs that support the creation and expansion of sustainable livelihoods of young men and women.
Vision
A sustainable, empowering institution through which young men and women can develop the capacity to increase their living standard through their movement in agricultural and rural based enterprises.
Purpose
To develop skills of men and women between the ages of 16 - 30 years, to be able to establish and operate viable farms or other agricultural and rural based enterprises, at an universally acceptable standard of living.
To encourage the formation and development of groups and other types of organizations amongst graduates of the GARD Center's training programmes and to establish links with other existing local and regional organizations.
To present agriculture to young people as a viable alternative to involvement in drugs, stealing and other crimes, as well as demeaning occupations, such as prostitution.
Estate History
Converting the Mill
In 1852, Gilbert's contained 323 acres and 158 slaves. There is said to be a large slave burial ground on this former sugar Estate. In the 1880s, steam power was introduced and many estates converted, including Gilbert's. In the process, the mill was cut shorter, plastered inside, and the opening was
sealed off, converting it into a cistern.
Subsequent owners of the Estate were:
1878 J & R Maginley
1891 R. Maginley
1921 G. Maginley
Founding Methodism
The Gilbert's Estate was owned by Nathaniel Gilbert, a lawyer and politician in Antigua in the early 1750s. He was the Speaker of the House of Assembly and also managed this former sugar estate owned by his family.
Nathaniel was introduced to Methodism by his brother, Dr. Francis Gilbert, who was converted by the teachings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in England. In 1758, Nathaniel Gilbert took his family and household slaves to England to be baptized by John Wesley. When he returned to Antigua one year later, he retired his political and legal ambitions and devoted his time to preaching to both whites and
blacks. He held services in his Estate house, which is now the Gilbert's Ecumenical Center. The original staircase leading to the back courtyard, still intact, is where Nathaniel used to preach.
After he died in 1774, three of his servants, Bessie, Sophia Campbell, and Marry Alley, started their own ministry among the slaves and kept the religion alive for many years before John Baxter, Methodist Local Preacher and shipwright, arrived from England.
THE CARIBBEAN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (CYEP)
CYEP is a three-year US$2.5 million initiative that focuses on providing effective job training and placement services that ensure youth from vulnerable backgrounds are equipped with the necessary skills to facilitate their transition into the world of work. The program targets young school leavers, ages 17 to 25, with particular attention given to young males who are currently unemployed, underemployed, lack the skills to participate in the increasingly service-oriented economy, or are unable to successfully initiate and sustain small businesses. The program is currently being implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica and Saint Lucia.
Learn more...
The GARD Center is building its capacity to become a Youth Business Trust for Antigua and Barbuda. This Trust, which will fall under the Prince’s Youth Business International , is being put in place to provide young entrepreneurs the opportunity to access funding to create their own small businesses. Many of these young people cannot access funds through local banks and are in need of guidance as they navigate the process of setting up their businesses. The trust offers them mentorships, guidance and most importantly access to funding.
The Center has established a Business Mentoring Program and is receiving support and training from the Barbados Youth Business Trust . In collaboration with the St. John’s Credit Union, a revolving loan fund is in place which will assist hopeful entrepreneurs in their efforts to become new small business owners. A generous contribution from CIBC - FirstCaribbean International Bank has made it possible for this fund to be expanded which will allow more entrepreneurs access to the program.
Camp G.R.O.W. (Gaining a Respect for the Outdoors and our World) seeks to bring youth together for two weeks to cultivate an appreciation for and understanding of the natural environment and its links to healthy and sustainable communities. Through a variety of fun outdoor and experiential learning activities, the camp will highlight Antigua and Barbuda's unique ecology while fostering responsible environmental stewardship. The camp also aims to increase youth's knowledge of local agricultural practices and how agriculture impacts our lives.
Camp G.R.O.W. is a partnership between Peace Corps Volunteers, The Environmental Awareness Group of Antigua & Barbuda (EAG), and the Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center (GARD Center). Camp G.R.O.W. will empower youth and inspire leadership through the development of life skills such as decision-making, critical thinking and teamwork. It will provide an opportunity for campers to have fun and get their hands dirty while developing a relationship with the world around them.
Learn more....
CYEP IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
The CYEP project in Antigua and Barbuda is called the Employment Enterprise Project and is implemented by the Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center). The goal of this project is to ensure that over 200 youth gain life and vocational or entrepreneurial skills, with at least 40% finding employment or operating their own business. In addition, 50% of the graduating trainees who do not have the equivalent of a high school degree when they start the program will be pursuing their education and will be enrolled in existing educational programs.
To date, the results of Phase 1 include 100% enrollment rate, success in recruiting the target group poor, have less than a secondary education, unemployed and 97% graduation rate among youth who completed training. In order to further support young people who dream of starting their own businesses, the GARD Center has launched a Business Mentoring program.
In an effort to mitigate the risks and increase the success rate of a young person starting a business and enhance the services of the Center, the GARD Center has decided to implement a business mentoring programme.
WHY ESTABLISH A BUSINESS MENTORING PROGRAMME:
a. A business mentoring program will ultimately increase the success rate of youth going into the field of entrepreneurship and enable them to operate a continually viable entity. It will remove the process of trial and error.
b. It will lead to an increase of interest once the program has been proven and established.
c. It has far reaching national and regional effects, especially in this era when self efficiency is being sought.
d. It will create a virtuous cycle, as mentees will become future mentors themselves while culturally, it can influence a change in mind set, more locals going in the direction of entrepreneurship.
e. With a good programme we will ultimately see an increase in the standard/quality of goods being produced or services, and later consumers can benefit (competition – low costs)
f. Financial institutions will have more confidence in youth entrepreneurship which has a dedicated structure, to ensure that the youth succeeds.
g. Governmental bodies will begin to recognize youth entrepreneurship programs and assist in business funding efforts (provide linkages with key departments such tourism).
h. There are a lot of untapped industries in which raw materials on the island could be used.
i. Youth entrepreneurship also provides avenues for further employment for more youth.
WHAT IS BUSINESS MENTORING?
It is a relationship whereby both parties learn from the experience. It is not only about giving back but receiving, it is about team work and working towards a common goal. Through this relationship the young person is given the tools and shown the attitude needed e.g. managerial skills to operate a successful business while the mentor should feel that he/she has gained some valuable life experience from this relationship. Business Mentoring is based on the spirit of volunteerism and can be short term or long term depending on the need of the young entrepreneur.
WHO IS A BUSINESS MENTOR?
A business mentor is a volunteer who has the relevant knowledge, experience and skills necessary to help a young person to start and grow a successful business. It is important that this individual is able to transfer the knowledge, experience and skills that he possesses to the young business person.
SPONSORS
The business mentoring program was launched with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Youth Foundation (IYF) and First Caribbean International Bank .
At this time all of GARD Center's courses are full. We are anticipating new courses beginning in early 2012. Please stay tuned as to what those courses will be.
For questions regarding registration, please contact Mrs. Joyce Humphreys at 463-4121 or by email at jhumphreys_gardc.org .
To view last year's courses, please click on the Course Catalog below.
Please note that you need a copy of Adobe Reader to view this document. If you do not have Adobe Reader you can download it for free here.
Course Catalog 2010 - 2011.pdf
Welcome to the student resources section of the GARD Center'’s website. This section is meant for all students (both past and present) in the Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CEYP). Here students will find helpful documents that will assist them during their time at the GARD Center as well as documents which will help them once they'’ve graduated.
To view these resource pages, click on the categories below. (e.g. "Internships" or "Employment")
If you have any questions about this section, please send an email to Latoya Friday ( lfriday_gardc.org ) or call our office at 463-4121.
As an intern from the Office of the Labour Commissioner.pdf
Please note that you need a copy of Adobe Reader to view this document. To download this for free, click here.
Basic_Employment_booklet.pdf
Getting Job Ready Capacity Building Workshop 16 05 11.pdf
CYEP Capacity Building Workshop 16 6 11-Developing your social professional strenghts talents.pdf
News & Information
To view this document, please click on the .PDF file below.
January Newsletter Coming Soon!
The GARD Center Exclusive_October_2011.pdf
The GARD Center Exclusive July 2011.pdf
February 2011 Newsletter.pdf
Backyard Gardening Course
The January 2012 Backyard Gardening Course is now complete, if you're interested in registering for future courses please call our office. Courses are scheduled when enough participants sign up for a class.
Are you interested in developing a backyard garden that will meet all your needs including not only food production but also beauty and diversity? The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center will be hosting another Backyard Gardening training session with sponsorship from the Mill Reef Fund. The lead tutor will be Mrs. Barbara Japal, a professional gardener and President of the Antigua and Barbuda Horticultural Society.
Sessions will be held six nights from January 16, 17 and 18, the first week and January 23, 24, 25, the second week from 5:15 - 8:00pm at the GARD Center. There will also be two practical four (4) hour sessions on selected days. Topics to be covered will be garden layout and design, seedling production, vegetable and herbal cultivation, integrated pest management, composting and others.
Call 463-4121 to register
The GARD Center is currently building its capacity to become a Youth Business Trust for Antigua and Barbuda. This Trust, which will fall under the Caribbean Group of the Youth Business Trusts is being put in place to provide young entrepreneurs the opportunity to access funding to create their own businesses. Many of these young people cannot access funds through local banks and are in need of guidance as they navigate the process of setting up their businesses. The trust offers them mentorships, guidance and most importantly access to funding.
The Center has established a Business Mentoring Program with the guidance of Mrs. Marcia Brandon, Executive Director of the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) and the Caribbean Regional Technical Coordinator for the Caribbean Group of Youth Business Trusts (YBTs), and GARD is receiving onging support and training from BYBT. In collaboration with the St. Johns Credit Union, a revolving loan fund is in place which will assist hopeful entrepreneurs in their efforts to become new small business owners. A generous contribution from CIBC - FirstCaribbean International Bank has made it possible for this fund to be expanded which will allow more entrepreneurs access to the program.
Our sincerest gratitude is extended to CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank for their generous support of the GARD Center and its beneficiaries. We look forward to partnering with them for many years to come and are grateful for the support theyve shown our organization.
Over the past twenty-years GARD Center has had a great number of partners who have helped to ensure the long-term success of many GARD Center programs.
The purpose of this section of our website is to provide an open forum amongst our clientele to discuss important issues, exchange information, and share ideas.
How to Join the Conversation
To join the conversation, choose a topic below and read what others have said about that topic or simply leave a comment yourself. For technical questions about this section of our website, please send an email to admin_gardc.org .
GARD Center's Website
We have recently launched the GARD Centers new website and we would love to hear what you think of it. We are looking for both the bad and the good, so please be honest with your feedback.
For the past twenty years, the GARD Center has worked tirelessly to provide skills training and enterprise development to our diverse clientele (i.e. agricultural producers, handicraft artisans, at-risk-youth, unemployed women, etc.). We rely heavily on assistance from our partner organizations as well as individual contributors and greatly appreciate their help because without it we wouldn't be here. If you would like to become a Friend of GARD , you can make a donation by phone, by mail or you can give online.
The GARD Center has partnered with The Advance initiative, which is a part of the General Board of Global Ministries. The Advance is an accountable, designated-giving arm of the United Methodist Church in the USA that will ensure 100% of any gift you give will be received by the Center.
How to Give
By Phone
Credit card gifts can be accepted by phone. The telephone number is 888-252-6174.
By Mail
Donors can make checks payable to ADVANCE GCFA. Write the name "Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center" and the Advance #401420 on the check. Send your check to:
Advance GCFA
P.O. Box 9068, GPO
New York, NY 10087-9068
Give Online
Donors can give online by copying and pasting the web address below: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/projects/search/index.cfm? action=details&id=3018727&code=401420
*American donors may apply for tax deductions. The Advance is a 501 (c)(3) organization
Please Support the Center in its work with youth, women, agricultural producers, handicraft artisans, prisoners, person living with HIV/AIDS, and many others!
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