Jems to unveil range of mitigation initiatives

Local community groups and environmental organizations have an opportunity to obtain funding to undertake specific actions in their communities aimed at reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. This forms part of an initiative of the JEMS Progressive Community Organization, which is gearing up to begin the second phase of its national climate change programme.{{more}}

Through its national climate change initiative, entitled “Community Participatory Action to reduce the Impacts of Climate Change in vulnerable communities in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” JEMS will be unveiling a range of mitigation initiatives in association with a number of youth/community organizations.

The group said in a release that the climate change project seeks to utilize a participatory approach in raising awareness and mobilizing people and their communities to take action to reduce the vulnerabilities of climate change. Under the project the country has been divided into five zones: Bequia, Chateaubelair, Georgetown, Vermont and South East (villages around the Kings Hill Forest Reserve). Already, a set of preparatory activities have taken place; these include: conducting a base line survey to assess the level of awareness on climate change; undertaking Community Mapping Exercises, which involved training for communities on strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change; implementing training workshops for group leaders from each of the target communities; staging community cultural wakes which utilized drumming, skits, music and other cultural art forms to educate and mobilize people into taking action and conducting radio discussion programmes on the impacts which climate change is having on communities.

During the National Week of Climate Change Action, community groups and environmental clubs will be invited to submit project concepts outlining activities they wish to implement to address

specific hazards and

vulnerabilities to which their communities are exposed.

Consultant on Climate Change Andrew Simmons, a co-founder of JEMS, is the principal facilitator behind the climate change project for which JEMS is the focal point.

Simmons, who resides in the UK, was integrally involved on the ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines spearheading the training and mapping exercises that formed

the first phase of the project.

Groups and community organizations that are interested in submitting proposals for activities to take place during National Week of Climate Change Action can obtain registration forms from Rosanna Leigertwood at telephone number 527-5228 or any other member of JEMS and also at the Community Development Division in Kingstown. The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday, September 18, 2015.