The Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago have launched a hydroponics and aquaponics system at the Court Shamrock Centre for Socially Displaced Persons in San Fernando.
The Court Shamrock Centre for Socially Displaced Persons has not only been assisting those in need of shelter but has also expanded to broaden the skills of its residents.
Through the TT$150,000 joint investment by the Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago, the residents are now involved in agriculture.
Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor for Shell, Ryssa Brathwaite, said the project will have a number of benefits.
“Over the past three years Shell has been partnering with the Digicel Foundation on their extraordinary projects impacting communities initiative, which enables us to support community-based organisations across Trinidad and Tobago with $100,000 grants. Today we came to Court Shamrock to launch the aquaponics project where they use drip to waste and natural systems to be able to generate food products which they could sell or they can use within the home itself.”
According to Chairman of the Centre Randall Mohammed, the project is expected to achieve two goals: skills training and economic development.
“Once this project has become successful, and of course we will appreciate that there’s a learning curve process to it too. Once we get it up and running, it will provide the centre with some products that they can use in-house, and the majority of it could be sold that will generate some much-needed revenue to help offset operational expenditure of Court Shamrock.”
Ms. Brathwaite said spaces like Court Shamrock give opportunities for those in need to gain practical skills for reintegration into society.
“Court Shamrock is a credible and legitimate organisation that provides one of the most essential services to one of the most vulnerable populations in Trinidad. People who have lost their homes, people who are socially displaced. Projects like this give them the opportunity to acquire important skills. It gives them an opportunity to reintegrate in society. It gives them an opportunity to feel good about themselves.”
This is the second year that the Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago have partnered to offer grants through the Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) Programme.
The San Fernando-based centre is one of ten non-profit organisations to receive this grant funding.