Empowering Youth Through STEAM

(Castries, Saint Lucia – Wednesday 13th August 2025) — Students from Saint Lucia’s East Coast recently benefited from a summer camp designed to inspire and build skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Organized by the community group Faces of Development, the programme took place from July 28th to August 8th at the Clendon Mason Memorial Secondary School.

Vice President of Faces of Development, Dr. Xysta Edmund, underscored the importance of this initiative. “The theme of this camp is Sustaining food security systems in Saint Lucia, and we had a total headcount of about 166 students. The campers were able to understand what food security is, as well as visit sites where they learnt the food-to-table experience in action. It is actually a free camp because it’s designed to ensure that children in this community — many of them from poor families —are not denied an opportunity to participate in a science camp because their parents cannot afford.”

She continued: “In addition to the camp being science and technology, one of the components is creating safe spaces for vulnerable children. So, we have a number of indicators that we use to measure its success: our children are in a safe space, they receive a meal, they are exposed to positive environments and thinking, and they are able to visit many parts of Saint Lucia and get to know their island much better.”

The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association’s Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) was the lead sponsor of the camp. TEF Programme Manager, Donette Ismael, emphasized that empowering Saint Lucia’s youth is central to the Fund’s mission. “The TEF is very proud to be supporting this initiative. Throughout this camp students have been exposed to various initiatives that would help them in developing sustainable livelihoods.”

She expressed satisfaction in the outcome of the initiative. “I have to mention that this is not the first time that the TEF has supported the Faces of Development summer camp, and we are extremely happy. When we arrived here, we saw how active everyone was and participatory, and from all feedback that we’ve received, the camp has been a great success. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our visitors, guests and all voluntarily contribute to the TEF, allowing us to do the amazing work that we do around Saint Lucia.”

Campers Jadiel Marcel and Tamica Prosper gave the camp two thumbs up and are already looking forward to next year’s installment.

“My experience at the camp was really entertaining and fun, and I also made a lot of new friends. They took us on a variety of tours. I remember one called Hotel Chocolat, how they made chocolate and different stuff out of chocolate. The teachers are also very kind and allowed me to learn stuff, especially food security,” said Marcel.

“STEAM camp is the best camp I’ve ever gone to! It’s fun, you learn stuff and you make new friends,” said Prosper.