Eleuthera youth at a Bahamas Plastic Movement Educational Camp this summer. 

(NASSAU, BAHAMAS) – Through its Grants programme, Lyford Cay Foundations partner with local non-profits to provide educational opportunities in a range of areas During the Foundations’ most recent grants awards cycle, a total of $70,500 was awarded to 15 non-profit organisations, the majority of which provide summer enrichment activities for young Bahamians. 

Among these were two South Eleuthera based non-profits — Bahamas Plastics Movement and Wemyss Bight Community Library.   Bahamas Plastics Movement focuses on teaching conservation education to youth.  Wemyss Bight Community Library, provides library services, after-school tutoring, homework help, computer services and summer programming to the communities of Waterford, Green Castel, Weymss Bight, Millers, Deep Creek and Bannerman Town.

“Our mission at work is to invest in diverse learning opportunities for Bahamian who will benefit the most, including those who live in family islands where resources are limited” shared Maureen French, Managing Director of Lyford Cay Foundations.  “We’re particularly pleased that our donors see the important connection between educating young people in the family islands about marine conservation and the continued prosperity of our beautiful country.”

Current Lyford Cay Scholar Kristal Ambrose, (Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Science, Gannon University, Class of 2017) is the founder of Bahamas Plastic Movement and serves as the project coordinator for the organisation’s camp, Plastic Pollution Education and Ocean Conservation Summer Camp.

The camp, which was conducted from June 27- July 1, is a tuition-free, five-day intensive programme for students of South Eleuthera between the ages 9 and 15 years old. The grant from the Foundations helped to offset costs associated with the camp.

“Our main goal is to help Bahamian youth understand the role they play in solving the issue of plastic pollution on the marine environment,” noted Kristal.  “The grant allows us to offer a complimentary environmental programme inclusive of lunch and transportation to students of South Eleuthera. In a community that is economically depressed, there would be no way to offer free summer programming to students in need without the help of the Lyford Cay Foundation.”

Other non-profits who were awarded grants this summer included:

  •  Bahamas National Trust Eco Camp
  • Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization
  • BREEF
  • Bahamas Youth Network
  • The Butterfly Club
  • D-Squad Summer Basketball Camp
  • Full Life Outreach Centre
  • Grand Bahama Sailing Club
  • International Creative Arts Initiative
  • Jude’s Bridge of Hope
  • Montell Heights Community Centre Programme
  • NAGB Art Summer Camp
  • REACH Summer Camp
  • Weymss Bight Community Library

Earlier in the year, Artie Johnson Tennis Camp, also based in Eleuthera, was awarded a general operating grant to support this tuition-free tennis camp for children between the ages of 6 and 12.  The goal of the camp is to introduce children to the sport.

The final deadline for this year is October 1st, 2016. Applications can be found at www.lyfordcayfoundation.org.