Barbara Graham (left) of the FAO; agriculture instructor Nicole Worrell; president of Kiwanis North, Patrick Blunt; and Michael Clarke, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer, unveiling the plaque.

by WENDY BURKE

A US$9 925 GRANT from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, and the volunteer work of Kiwanis North, will help the Challenor Adult Centre in its efforts to become self-sufficient.

A shadehouse, a project which was in the making for the last three years, has finally seen the light of day, with help also coming from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The wooden structure covered with black mesh will help to shade seedlings and plants being grown by those involved in the landscaping programme at the institution which caters to special needs adults between 18 and 35 years.

The monies from the FAO are part of the Telefood project, where direct funding is given to help with materials for small group and community projects, especially involving children, young people and women. Still need help

Instructor of agriculture/landscaping at Challenor, Nicole Worrell, said the centre needed more groups and organisations to offer technical support because it was an area with which it needed help, even though the programme was ongoing for four years.

She also said it welcomed the Kiwanis who did the construction on weekends.

"We are looking to go into production, bringing in plants to sell to the public and also to staff at the school in order to raise funds for the centre because we want to be self-sufficient. This is a welcome addition to the programme," she said. Training and development

President of Kiwanis North, Patrick Blunt, wanted others to get involved in working with the centre.

"It is built to withstand pretty strong winds and we hope that they will be able to use this in their training and development . . . . We would like to encourage more clubs to sponsor projects like this," he said.

Head of the FAO in Barbados, Barbara Graham, said they were pleased to be helping the centre, as it showed what inter-organisational co-operation could do.

"One of the things I would like to encourage the people to whom this greenhouse has been given is to use it well. Ensure that you manage it in such a way that, whether you are in food production or ornamental production, that you sustain it," she said.

She added that it could be a multi-purpose facility for the students.

Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Michael Hunte said he was happy that the project was completed and hoped that in future the centre would get the necessary aid to be able to have a modern greenhouse.