Local documentary makes international stage at EU summit

Hand2Earth’s documentary film ‘Grassmen II’ about a prisoner and ex-offender rehabilitation project in the prisons of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) was screened to heads of state and government of CELAC and the EU in Brussels on July 16.

Grassmen II, directed by Aiko Roudette, was one of three short films selected for the screening and debate, the others from Brazil and Mexico. The film was sponsored by the SVG Environment Fund and documents prisoner rehabilitation with a focus on land conservation using vetiver grass.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) – European Union (EU) meeting was co-chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and Prime Minister of St Vincent & the Grenadines Ralph E Gonsalves, pro-tempore President of CELAC.

The EU-CELAC Summit was a key political milestone to reinvigorate and strengthen the bi-regional partnership between the two regions.

Hand2Earth, a local non profit, focused on soil and land conservation for sustainable livelihoods, stated that their organisation is delighted that the rehabilitation project documented in the Grassmen II has resonated with international leaders addressing developmental challenges. The film’s prequel, ‘The Grassmen’ has been screened at various international and regional film festivals and will be screened at the Native Spirit Festival in Notting Hill, London UK in October 2023.

Hand2Earth is a SVG registered non-profit organisation working to improve opportunities for sustainable livelihoods through productive engagement with renewable resources, and the flora and fauna and cultural heritage of our islands. H2E has been implementing Vetiver Systems Projects for land conservation, soil regeneration, prisoner rehabilitation and vetiver handcraft production in St Vincent and Dominica since 2015.

Link to Grassmen II film: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=73725435721863