Category Archives: Agriculture
GARD Center host for GEW and CEW in Antigua and Barbuda
Recently the GARD Center hosted the GEW and CEW during the month of November. During the month several local entrepreneurs visited the GARD Center and made presentations.
Images from GEW and CEW in Antigua and Barbuda
View our Press Release: Press Release GEW 2018
Mrs. Roberta Williams, our unsung hero, we salute you from the GARD Center Staff
In June 2018 Mrs. Roberta Williams retired from what she referred to as her mission, the GARD Center after 28 years. She described it all as an amazing journey……..
(presented at the Retirement Celebration Church Service on June 21, 2018 Mrs. Williams’ 70th birthday)
Framed in your office is a quote that says, “Success is largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” We think it is safe to say, that you, dear, have a commitment that is unmatched. Where others would have long thrown in the towel, you broke through barriers, where others saw obstacles, you saw opportunities, where others were frustrated and ready to give up, you were gracious and ready to try one more time, and one more time after that.
Even though she really is the gift that keeps on giving, we know that it gets hard sometimes, and that things get heavy. But in those trying and testing times, she does what we all should do when we don’t know what to do, “Be still and know that He is God.”
Over the past 3 decades God has used you to strengthen feeble hands and to encourage those with weak knees to keep moving forward. Your compassion and devotion to the youth of our nation has made a positive impact not only in our society, but in the hearts and minds of each trainee that would have passed under your wing. It has also kept you young. As you stand tall and beautiful, a refreshing embodiment of poise and grace, you make us, your GARDC family, want to be better and do better. You have set a standard, and an example, that we can only hope to one day meet. You have left behind more than fond memories, but a legacy that must be continued. You’d have it no other way, or you’d probably try to do it yourself.
Did we mention she’s a stickler for deadlines? More than getting things done right, she strives to get them done on time. Her work ethic is one to be admired. And after the course is complete, after the event has ended, before the dust can settle, the thank you’s MUST be sent out. Our superwoman never fails to give credit where credit is due and she certainly never forgets to say thank you. From the very important person to the behind the scene helpers, her gratitude is always heartily expressed.
Even though she really is the gift that keeps on giving, we know that it gets hard sometimes, and that things get heavy. But in those trying and testing times, she does what we all should do when we don’t know what to do, “Be still and know that He is God.”
Finally, our love, we’d like you to know that when we count our blessings, we count you twice. We want you to know that we have no intentions of leaving you alone and that there is nowhere that you can go that our love won’t reach you. We want you to know that we will always be praying for you, and to remind you to:
Lift your eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh your help. Your help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Mrs. Roberta Williams, our unsung hero, we salute you.
The Lord is my keeper, the Lord is the shade upon my right hand. Psalm 121:5
Save the Date for Farm-to-Table 2018!!!
The much anticipated GARD Center Farm-to-Table is scheduled for Saturday, 14 April 2018.
The 4th annual fundraiser Luncheon will be worth the wait.
Once again, it will be held under the auspices of the Governor General of Antigua and 
Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams, at the GARD Center’s Agro-Nature Park, Mercer’s Creek.
On offer this year are more Chefs, Producers and a much wider mouth-watering 4 Course meal. Each patron will be greeted with a ‘Signature Welcome Drink.’ Seafood Tastings will also be available. From Soups to Mouth watering Desserts, your palate will be pleased with your selection.
Giving Tuesday, 28 November 2017
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) welcomes donations at anytime during the year.
On November 28, 2017, United Methodists will once again come together to support the work of Advance missionaries and projects on UMC #GivingTuesday.
However, ‘GIVING TUESDAY‘ is not only about collecting money. It is about awareness of the opportunity and need for organisations which work with individuals, families, and communities to unite in mission in this season.
This year in particular, the GARD Center is obligated to reach out to the youth of our sister territories, Barbuda and Dominica, to assist those who have been displaced after their countries were ravaged by two (2) category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria in September 2017.
The Center is therefore making a special appeal for donations to potential GIVING TUESDAY partners and supporters.
Thank you for your passion and support, as we live out God’s mission together.
GRADUATION CEREMONY
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) held its 2017 Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, 3 October 2017, at the Ebenezer Methodist Church Hall, St. Mary’s Street.
This Ceremony was to celebrate the European Union sponsored training programme, under the name, “Improving Opportunities for At-Risk, Probationary and Incarcerated Youth in Antigua and Barbuda” (YAR).
The ages of the youth trained range from 16 – 35 years. Fifty six (56) students graduated from this programme. Eight from Agricultural Enterprise; fifteen from Information Communication Technology and thirty-three from Office Administration.
Fifty-three (53)% of these young people have been awarded Internships and fifteen (15) have gained 
employment. The GARD Center wishes to sincerely thank all of our Business Partners who assisted us with Internships and Job Placement during Cohort 1, and we look forward to your continued support.
Special thanks to everyone who participated in our Graduation Ceremony and contributed to its success.
Birthday Greetings to the Executive Director
It is with great joy that we celebrate with our Executive Director, Mrs. Roberta Williams.
On the first day of summer, 21 June 2017, Roberta celebrated her birthday in office and with her staff.
Happy Birthday to a Wonderful and Hardworking Boss!!!
Giving Tuesday, 29 November 2016
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) welcomes donations at anytime during the year. Let us all Prepare to give a Special contribution to the Center this November, 2017.
However, ‘GIVING TUESDAY‘ is not only about collecting money. It is about awareness of the opportunity and need for organisations which work with individuals, families, and communities to unite in mission in this season.
Giving Tuesday is a response, started in 2012, to the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a time to rally families and communities to assist worthy causes that meet human needs around the world. For United Methodists, it has become a time of designated mission giving through The Advance for Christ and His Church, which assures that every dollar goes to the ministries indicated by the donor.
Over the past three years, the General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have matched designated Giving Tuesday gifts up to set levels.
The motivation for mission giving is mission itself.
We at the GARD Center wish to sincerely thank all of you who have contributed to the work carried out by the Center for the last 27 years. We feel truly blessed to be able to serve our clientele throughout these years and as we celebrate under the theme: 27 Years: Positively Changing the Face of Youth At Risk, we ask that everyone continues to support the Center and encourage you to invite others to share in our success by reaching these Youth, who for whatever reason, may have fallen through the cracks.
GARD Center, empowering and giving our vulnerable youth a 2nd chance to strive for excellence for the betterment of Antigua and Barbuda.
Farm-to-Table 2017
The GARD Center is extremely pleased to have received sponsorship for this year’s Farm-to-Table fundraiser event.
Our principal sponsor for the 3rd annual Luncheon was the James and Maginley Charity & Care Foundation. We welcomed their extended contribution to the Center this year, by donating cutlery and crockery to assist us with the up-scaling of this event.
Once again, this event was held under the auspices of the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams, at the GARD Center’s Agro-Nature Park, Mercer’s Creek.
This year we had more Chefs, and Producers involved. These people were responsible for the expanded and wider mouth-watering menu.
Sincere thanks and appreciation are given to the James and Maginley Charity & Care Foundation and to all of those who patronised this event.
We look forward to welcoming you to our 4th annual Farm-to-Table luncheon and invite you to bring a Friend.
Congratulations to Our Recent Graduates
The GARD Center recently held a Graduation Ceremony, on Thursday, 8 December 2016, at the Methodist Church Hall, St. Mary’s Street.
77 graduates successfully completed their courses of study and received certificates in Information Communication Technology, Customer Service, Business Management and Yacht Maintenance. 4 from the ICT class, 17 from Business Management, 19 in Customer Service and 37 from Yacht Maintenance.
The ICT, Business Management and Customer Service trainees paid their own way to take these courses and deserve an extra nod of approval for making this step towards advancing their skills and knowledge in these difficult economic times but staying focused and seeing it through to the end.
This year our donor partners are the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICAN) and the UK aid from the British people which all forms part of a larger project within the CARICOM Education for Employment (C-EFE) throughout the Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda form a part of a collation of three other Caribbean countries to achieve training in the Marine sector. These countries are St. Lucia and Grenada of which St. Lucia is the lead country. This project is managed by a publicly supported Canadian college called the Cegepe, which facilitated the development of a curriculum for the accreditation of YM program to be offered by the GARD Center.
The GARD Center and the National Training Agency (NTA) have always had a good working relationship and it is through the partnership with the NTA the Center was introduced to our donor partners in this Youth Skills Development Programme. The NTA knowing the track record of the GARD Center recommended that we be the training facility to manage the programme, considering we had conducted several other training courses in Yacht Maintenance.
The Center also used this opportunity to recognise and honour 27 of our Tutors, who have volunteered and worked with us over the twenty-seven years of our existence.
The following is an email received from one of our esteemed Tutors, please read his comments.
“I have admired the tremendous work that, over the years, the GARD Centre has produced and the wonderful successes that it has had in providing assistance to Antigua and Barbuda’s young people and especially for young women at risk.
In my view one of the most significant things about the GARD programmes, has been its holistic approach, in which it has addressed in its training, not only to the technical or business needs of its students, but also to the spiritual and human relations needs as well. Sometimes, this has been at great cost to the staff in terms of playing a variety of supportive roles, not only as teachers, but as mentors, Big sisters, parents, financial advisers, legal counsel – the list could go on almost indefinitely. Most teaching organisations do not take such a comprehensive responsibility for their students’ success and development.
I have also to say that your vision, energy and drive have been so important to the successes of the GARD Centre. I was around enough during earlier times to know that trials and tribulations that you had to go through and the tenacity you displayed in getting the present building from Minister St Luce – you were like a bull dog – visiting Public Works every day to keep them from doing someone else’s bidding!
It has been a privilege working with you and if and when you do decide to “retire”, I know that you can be proud of what you have accomplished and happy for all those young women and men whose lives have been enriched by their studies at The GARD Centre. I truly hope that the Methodist Church also appreciates the enormous contribution the Centre has made to the nations youth and the Church’s ministry.
When I started this email/letter of acknowledgement, I did not intend to say all this, but we don’t often get the opportunity to talk these days, I think we both seem to be busier than ever and it seemed very good opportunity for me to express the pleasure and satisfaction that I have experienced in working with you and the Centre, watching it grow from strength to strength!“
