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April 29, 2008
University of Florida Supports 4-H in the Caribbean
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Urban Horticulture Extension Agent Norma Samuel and 4-H Agent Nicole Walker visited Antigua, a small island in the West Indies to conduct 4-H 101 curriculum training for staff at the Youth Department of the Government of Antigua.
In the span of 1 ½ weeks in January 2008, the agents held a stakeholder meeting, a four-day 4-H 101 workshop, teen leadership workshop and horticulture identification contest that included about 75 community leaders, youth staff and teenagers.
Cleon Athill, Director of the Youth Department in Antigua, expressed the excitement of the staff in revitalizing the dormant 4-H club program. Currently, just one school-based club is active, at St. Mary's School of Excellence. In the near future, with continued technical support from Samuel and Walker, and the UF/IFAS International Programs Department, we expect that new 4-H clubs--both in communities and schools--will crop up to support young people throughout Antigua.
4-H is found throughout the Caribbean, with an especially strong program on the island of Jamaica, which boasts more than 67,000 members. 4-H in the Caribbean region is focused primarily on agriculture and community service type projects.
For more information on the growing 4-H program in Antigua, or tips on planning an international extension experience, you can contact Norma Samuel at norma.samuel@marioncountyfl.org, or Nicole Walker at naw@ufl.edu.
Posted in category 4-H Members at 5:17 PM