The GARD Center is pleased to announce the start of its Yacht Maintenance Training Course, sponsored by the UKaid, and the Canadian Federal Government, the CARICOM Education for Employment Program (C-EFE) for youth (CAR-19).
Twenty-six (26) youth are currently registered in this 12-week training course.
In 2015, in collaboration with the National Training Agency (NTA), the GARD Center was selected as the training institute to facilitate Yacht Maintenance Training Courses. One hundred youth between the ages of 15 – 29 years, are being trained with applied learning strategies to develop employability skills, vocational skills, entrepreneurship and academic skills. This eighteen month training was funded to a tune of CAD120,308.00.
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GARD Center Courses
The Center will be starting its three-month training courses September 2016, in:
Agriculture,
Business Management,
Customer Service,
ICT,
Office Administration,
Tour Guiding; and
Yacht Maintenance, (especially for young women between the ages of 15 – 29 years of age). FREE TUITION for those who Qualify
Now is the time to improve your skills for your future.
Register now, by contacting the GARD Center at: 463.4121 or 562.0084; or youth@gardc.org;
A Minimum Course Fee will be charged.
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Landscaping Services
For the best in lawn care, Tree Removal, assistance in developing and maintaining your back yard gardens.
Contact the GARD Center today at 463-4121/562-0084 to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified Ground Maintenance Technicians.
Support a Worthy Cause.
In Need of Your Prayers
A member of the GARD Center’s ‘extended family’ was involved in an accident on 3 June 2016, and has been hospitalised in an induced coma.
Mr. Stephen Samuel, is one of the Center’s main Yacht Maintenance training course Facilitators. Please pray for the full recovery and overall health of Mr. Samuel. Pray also for the strength of his family during this very difficult time.
Thank you for your continued support and best wishes.
GARD Center Recognised Regionally
GARD Center Recognised Regionally
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) has been recognised once again for its work, with the presentation of a regional award to its Executive Director, Mrs. Roberta Williams.
The Female Social Entrepreneur Award 2016 by the Global Innovation Partnership (GIP) and the Caribbean Center of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (CoESL) was given to Mrs. Williams along with 19 other Caribbean women in the Region, who were awarded as a result of their creativity and expertise in mobilizing financial and other resources to help people build sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship and / or entrepreneurial acumen and support to develop people for progress in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Social-Entrepreneurs-Award-2016-Mrs.-Roberta-Williams
The GARD Center, which falls under the auspices of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, continues to empower vulnerable youth with providing opportunities for entrepreneurial and technical vocational skills training and provision of services. Mrs. Williams is humbled by this recognition and shares this award with her staff, as they have a passion and continue to empower at risk young men and women with skills in competitive disciplines, that will help them compete in this global environment.
GARD Center 2nd annual fundraiser Farm-to-Table luncheon
The 2nd annual GARD Center fundraiser Farm-to-Table luncheon was held on site at the Gilbert Agro-heritage site on Saturday, 16 April 2016. The Official Sponsor of this year’s event is the James & Maginley Charity and Care Foundation. This Foundation willingly came on board and supported this venture of the Center.
This year’s event was held under the patronage of Their Excellencies, Sir Rodney & Lady Sandra Williams.
Of the many patrons who came to support our worthy cause, we wish to sincerely thank you for your support. This event has truly been dubbed as Antigua’s most exquisite and unique outdoor dining experience!
A delicious meal, buffet style was available with mainly FRESH, LOCAL produce. A true Farm-to-Table setting was provided while seated under white tents, with the fresh air gently blowing through the Casuarina trees. Patrons were able to enjoy live entertainment, which was provided by Pannist, Bernard Duplesis; complimentary food samples, which
included locally caught seafood, and locally made confectioneries.
There was a Chinese auction, officiated by Mrs. Chris Richards and the patrons had an exciting time, bidding for
the donated prizes, which included a weekend for two (2) at Tamarind Hills; dinner for two (2) at the Galley Bay Resort and Spa; lunch for two (2) at Curtain Bluff; an Azumi Smartphone from Digicel; gift certificates from Gloria’s Beauty Salon and Midway Service Station.
Additionally, a beautiful artiste impression of the St. John’s Market scenery was donated by a local upcoming artiste, Ms. Sabiena Winston.
Patrons so enjoyed the ambiance that they cannot wait for the next Farm-to-Table. See you all on the Saturday, 15 April, 2017.
The GARD Center sincerely thanks everyone for their support and encouragement for the work carried out at the Center, as it carries out it’s programmes to reach at risk youth, with a second chance in life. THANK YOU!!!
More About our Sponsors
The James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation, is a non-profit charity, established in January, 2016.
Its founders are Ambassador Casroy James and Mr. Kirthley Maginley, co-principals of James and Maginley Ltd.
The primary mission of the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation is to improve the lives and well-being of the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, particularly, those most vulnerable.
UPDATE – JAY PETERS MATTER
The GARD Center wishes to thank the many persons – Board members, family members, volunteers, tutors, graduates, Friends of GARD Center, who have rallied around our staff member, Mr. Jay Peters, our Operational Foreman. Thank you for your prayers and overwhelming support, during this difficult time.
We know that we have an awesome and powerful God, who will ensure that justice prevails.
The GARD Center continues its important work with providing vulnerable youth with a second chance and stands by its staff, who continue to show passion, commitment and love for this important work.
Farm-to-Table 2016
The GARD Center presents its 2nd annual Farm-to-Table Luncheon, under the patronage of His Excellency, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams.
This year the Center wishes to announce our Official Sponsor, the James & Maginley Charity and Care Foundation
This fundraiser event will be held on Saturday, 16 April 2016. It will be held at the Gilbert Agro Heritage Center, Mercers Creek.
Luncheon will be served from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is a sit-down affair.
Antigua’s most exquisite and unique outdoor dining experience!
Come and Enjoy a delicious meal!!! Only FRESH produce used – from Farm to Table
Live entertainment, complimentary food samples, Chinese auction and more.
Adult tickets cost EC$100.00, and children under 12 years pay EC$40.00.
SEE YOU THERE!!!
The GARD Center can be contacted at 463-4121 / 562-0084 for more details. Watch the video below.
https://youtu.be/vBgHH35JUFg
Sponsorship for Farm-to-Table Fundraiser
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) has been blessed with sponsorship from the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation, for its 2nd Annual, and major fundraiser event.
This year’s event will be held under the patronage of His Excellency, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams.
The Handover Ceremony was held in the recently constructed training facility which was donated by the People of Japan, at the GARD Center, Agro-heritage Center, on Thursday, 3 March 2016, 3:30pm.
The brief Ceremony was opened in Prayer by Rev. Patmore Henry, Secretary to the Methodist Conference. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Colin C. James CEO, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
Remarks were offered by Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director, GARD Center, as well as by Ambassador Casroy James and Mr. Kirthley Maginley, Directors of the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation.
Remarks were also offered by Ms. Shirlene Nibbs, Consultant to the Ministry of Tourism, in the absence of Hon. Asot Michael, Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy.
Unveiling of the Poster, which signaled the launch of the 2nd Annual Farm-to-Table Event was Mrs. Ann Jonas, Private Secretary to His Excellency, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams.
The James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation is a non-profit charity, established in January, 2016. Its founders are Ambassador Casroy James and Mr. Kirthley Maginley, co-principals of James and Maginley Ltd.
The primary mission of the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation is to improve the lives and well-being of the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, particularly, those most vulnerable.
GARD Center Graduation Ceremony
The GARD Center recently held its Class of 2015, Graduation Ceremony, on Thursday, 25 February, 2016. This event was held at the Ebenezer Methodist Church Hall.
Seventy seven (77) persons graduated from Business Management; Customer Service; Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Yacht Maintenance training courses.
The Feature Address was given by Hon. E. Paul ‘Chet’ Greene, Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce and the parliamentary representative for the St. Paul constituency. The technical/ practical training was conducted at the Precision Yacht Painting Workshop in Liberta. A very passionate Miss Kareem Francis gave the Project Overview, which focused on the Yacht Maintenance course, where 35 young men and 2 young women graduated.
In the last seven years the GARD Center has been providing full-time training courses for vulnerable youth. These courses help young people to acquire necessary skills and provide them with job experience that will later enable them with a second chance, to get a job or become successfully self-employed.
