2023 marks the third consecutive year of local International Rural Women’s Day IRWD) celebrations. On Monday, October 9th, the organization hosted its annual IRWD ceremony at its headquarters in Pointe Seraphine. The event was an occasion to celebrate the contributions of Saint Lucia’s rural women, and members of Helen’s Daughters.
Of special note during the ceremony was the introduction of the “Felicite Justin Award for Selflessness in Agriculture”, named in honour of a longstanding member of Helen’s Daughters, and presented to that member. The October 9th ceremony also featured the landmark signing of a memorandum of understanding between Helen’s Daughters and WhyFarm, a Trinidadian organisation focused on agricultural education through entertainment. The two NGOs will work collaboratively on school tours and knowledge exchange initiatives.
In her remarks, Helen’s Daughters Executive Director Keithlin Caroo noted “What most excites me about this collaboration is that two young, grassroots organizations from the Global South can come together to change our agricultural landscape and demonstrate that South-South Cooperation isn’t only relegated to a high level. I know that through this collaboration, both organizations can learn, share and simultaneously change the narrative of agriculture, one school at a time.”
Among a host of planned initiatives including the development of recently leased land in Roseau, Helen’s Daughters intends to promote an appreciation for agriculture at all levels, beginning in the island’s primary schools. Along with the WhyFarm team, the organisation will visit four primary schools, introducing students to the AGRIman comic book series published by WhyFarm as a practical introduction to agriculture. “It’s important that we look to the future, but change the narrative right now because the change has to come now in order for us to be food secure in the future,” shared Alpha Sennon, Executive Director of WhyFarm ahead of the school visits.
Helen’s Daughters will continue International Rural Women’s Day celebrations through the week of October 9th to 15th. On Saturday, October 14th, Helen’s Daughters will expand its monthly FarmHers Markets to the island’s south, with a speciality event at Project Chocolat in Soufriere, and will wrap up the month with its monthly FarmHers Market on October 28th at the Pyramid in Pointe Seraphine.
