Tag Archives: Mill Reef Fund

Update of Training Sessions at the GARD Center

Agriculture Entrepreneurship News No Comments

Evening training is currently ongoing at the GARD Center in Beginners Beekeeping sponsored by the Mill Reef Fund and Climate Smart Agriculture with Business Enterprise, Hydroponics and Backyard Gardening funded by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) and the Sandals Foundation. These training sessions are held at the GARD Center in Mercers Creek from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

During these 14 weeks of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) training, participants have been involved in Business Enterprise sessions to include Costing and Pricing, Communication & Marketing, Intellectual Property, Business Plan, Parasitology, Budding and Grafting and Vermiculture. These training courses and are now in their sixth week of training and the participants have been engaged in climate smart discussions and vibrant class sessions. As these courses progress, each participant is eagerly looking forward to more practical hands-on training and field work. In the weeks ahead, participants would also engage in Packaging and Labelling, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics practicals along with field visits. 

Group A – Sponsored by the Sandals Foundation.

  • Budding & Grafting

Group B- Sponsored by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG)

Marketing and Communication

  • Vermiculture

Parasitology

Over 30 persons have shown interest in 12 weeks of training in Beginners Beekeeping of whom 25 participants are currently receiving the tools and hands-on training to prepare them to begin their apiaries. Each participant will receive the added component of Business Enterprise to include Packaging and Labelling to develop their brand and business idea. During the training participants have shown great enthusiasm in class sessions and a WhatsApp group was created to share information and ask questions to expand on their knowledge in Beekeeping. Each participant constructed their own bee frames and were outfitted with bee suits to carry out a field visit at the Urlings Primary School to remove a beehive. The bees were safely relocated to bee boxes and the honey extracted from the beehive was refined. The beeswax was used to make lip balm and other products and each participant received a sample.   

12 Weeks of Training in Beginners Beekeeping sponsored by the Mill Reef Fund

Orientation Day

  • Orientation

  • Orientation Day

Making Lip Balm with Bee’s Wax

Extracting Honey

  • Making Lip Balm from honey

Assembling Bee Frames

Using A Bee Smoker

Students watching as how to use the bee smoker is demonstrated.

Field Visit to Urlings Secondary School to Remove Bee Hive

Participants assisted with the removal of a bee hive from the school.

GARD Center Congratulates Mill Reef Fund on 75 Years of Service to Antigua and Barbuda

Donations News No Comments

GARD Center salutes the Mill Reef Fund on its 75th Anniversary for all of the incredible work it has committed to and achieved in Antigua and Barbuda.  During these years the Center has been tremendously blessed by the generosity of the Fund which has allowed it to positively meet the needs of our clientele, the vulnerable in its community (At-risk Youth and Women) and the mandate to train.

When COVID-19 arrived on the shores of Antigua and Barbuda in March 2020, the country was placed under complete lockdown by the government and health protocols were enforced.  Many people, especially women and youth in the workforce were severely displaced.  The  Mill Reef Fund contributed significantly to the retraining and re-tooling of persons residing in this twin island state.   As the government slowly allowed for the reopening of the Country internally with its citizens/ residents and its borders to the wider community, many people, especially in the Hospitality industry were out of work and experienced hardships in feeding themselves and their families.  

The GARD Center saw this as an opportunity to offer training and /or retraining to members of various communities.  This mission was fulfilled by grant funds received from the Mill Reef Fund to conduct Climate Smart Agriculture courses with focus on Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics; as well as, Sewing Courses for Beginners.  These courses were selected because the unemployed could quickly learn a skill and earn an income.  Different Cohorts of training had to be undertaken to observe the rapidly changing Health Protocols.  47 Participants graduated from the CSA training courses (26 M, 21 F).  One female has started her own Hydroponics farm and sells her produce. She has also developed other products from the harvesting of her backyard garden. (pepper sauce, etc.).  Her husband works closely with her and now constructs hydroponic units for sale. 

49 Participants completed the Beginners Sewing courses with 47 F and 2 M graduating.  A 27-year old male who graduated has continued to develop his sewing skills and is now enrolled at Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE).  This gentleman designed and created the Wedding dress for this year’s annual ABS Valentine Wedding ceremony.

Ralstan Hughes, Designer & Creator of the 2022 Valentine’s Wedding Gown working in GARD Center’s Sewing Class

Many of the graduates continue to flourish with their knowledge honed and are able to earn an income.

In addition, in 2020, the Mill Reef Fund provided Care Packages to 50 graduates of the Center (single mothers) for 6 months.  This benevolent gesture was extremely well received by all.

Single Mothers Care Packages Distribution

The Mill Reef Fund continued to serve this nation in 2021 when funding was received by the GARD Center to conduct Remarkable Hospitality and Customer Service Training as well as Basic Baking, Decorating and Food Preparation Courses.  A total of 18 people graduated, (14 F and 4 M).

Sincere thanks to the Mill Reef Fund for partnering with our Center in its delivery and upliftment of the Youth of this nation.

For More information on the Mill Reef Fund visit:
Mill Reef Fund | Improving the lives of the people of Antigua and Barbuda since 1948

Donation to Frontline Workers

Donations News No Comments

Staff at Hana Thomas Hospital (Barbuda) receiving protective gear from the GARD Center.

The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) donates surgical gowns and masks to Public Health Nurse Supervisor, in the East Area of Antigua, and Hana Thomas Hospital in Barbuda. Mr. John Mussington, GARD Center’s Board Member who resides in Barbuda made the presentation. To date, the Center has donated 40 masks and 16 gowns.  These gifts were made possible due to the generous donation of a Mill Reef Fund sponsored project in 2020, to train Beginners to sew.  During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center was able to offer a skill by training and/or retraining  some persons who were laid off.

In addition, another partner donated a large amount of Sterilization Wrap material to the Center for the construction of Facial Masks and Surgical Gowns. 

Many thanks to all of our generous donors who have made it possible for the Center to give back to the Frontline Workers in the Community.

Health care worker (Antigua) receiving protection gear from Mrs. June Jackson the Executive Director of the GARD Center


Thank You to The Mill Reef Fund

Donations News No Comments

They are those that even in tough times they are there.
The Mill Reef Fund has shown their commitment in a time when the entire world is being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. During this time their support of initiatives at the GARD Center has continued and has helped many families in Antigua & Barbuda in their time of need. For this the GARD Center wishes to express its appreciation to the Mill Reef Fund for their continual care and support.

Single Mother’s Care Package Initiative

Donations News Youth No Comments

GARD Center through its partnership and generous donation of the Mill Reef Fund continues distribution of its Single Mother’s Care Package initiative. On August 6th, 2020 fifty (50) mothers received their monthly packages as volunteers of the Center worked the day before to ensure the packages are ready for collection. These packages included the basic food items and necessities to provide for themselves and their children after becoming unemployed by the COVID -19 pandemic.

The expression of sentiments and the appreciative look on the faces of these mothers was heartwarming. Through the words of one of the mothers who wishes Mill Reef Fund to know how grateful they are said, “You made a huge impact on my life and that of my family in this very difficult time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Once again GARD Center Staff and Board of Directors express thanks to the Mill Reef Fund for their continued support, donation, and empowerment as we assist our Youth, men and Women in Antigua and Barbuda.