PACK FOR A PURPOSE
Blue Grenadines are proud to be members of Pack for a Purpose
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travellers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for the projects we support in need, you’ll make a priceless impact on the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project/projects.
The mission is to positively impact communities around the world by assisting travellers who want to bring meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit and make informed decisions about which items will most meet the needs of those communities.
3 Easy Steps to participate
- Find a project you wish to support by following the ‘Pack for a Purpose’ link on the Blue Grenadines website.
- Choose the supplies you wish to bring from the specific items requested.
- Send us a message once you're on the island.
We are currently supporting the following 6 projects
- The Bequia Animal Protection Alliance (BAPA) organisation
- The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs
- Glen’s pre-school
- Friends of Bequia Hospital
- Bequia Reading Club
- Rise Up Bequia - Annual Book Donation Drive
IMPORTANT: Supplies List Information
We are expected to keep a record of the weight of all supplies received from tourists.
Thank you.
About the Projects
Project 1 - BAPA
The Bequia Animal Protection Alliance (BAPA) is a non-profit organisation, that has been created in response to the growing number of stray dogs in Bequia. They are dedicated to preventing cruelty and replacing it with kindness to all animals. They provide medical care to animals in need and subsidising veterinary care to low-income families.
BAPA conducts ongoing spay/neuter and vaccination campaigns to treat medical conditions, administers emergency/first aid care and facilitates animal adoption. A weekly animal clinic is held by Dr Eric Audain in Port Elizabeth, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
High on BAPA's wishlist! Tick, flea and manage treatments are urgently required to treat our dogs in Bequia. Old towels are also very useful.
Project 2 - The Sunshine School
The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs provides a nurturing learning environment for 30 students living in Bequia, ranging in age from five to twenty years. These children exhibit learning issues caused by a variety of physical, behavioural or mental challenges.
The Sunshine School is a privately funded, not for profit, institution administered by a local Board of Directors and is reliant on donations and fundraising in order to offer the students a wonderful learning environment. The teaching of work-related and life skills allows opportunities for students to contribute to their homes and communities with self-supportive skills.
The School needs a regular supply of basic school and office supplies, learning materials, arts & craft supplies and books. New for 2021, the Sunshine School has installed whiteboards to replace traditional chalkboards so whiteboard marker pens, dusters and cleaners are now urgently needed. The Sunshine School have also started a school garden so children’s gardening gloves and garden hand tools are also required.
Project 3 - Glen's Pre-School
Glen’s pre-school, established in 1998, is a community facility providing a creche and activity centre for 45 young boys and girls living in Bequia.
The pre-school helps the children, ageing from 6 months to 4 years old, to socialise, play together, and to enhance their development and learning in preparation for joining general education.
The pre-school needs a regular supply of learning materials, books, arts and craft supplies, new and used toys, and fun activities to ensure more children can benefit in the future.
Project 4 - Friends of Bequia Hospital
Friends of Bequia Hospital was set up in 2013 to improve medical care on Bequia and supports the 3 medical facilities in Bequia: Bequia Hospital, Port Elizabeth Clinic, and Paget Farm Clinic. FOBH is administered by local Trustees and is reliant on donations of supplies and fundraising.
The first priority is to ensure that medication, frontline supplies and consumables are available to meet the ongoing needs of the people of Bequia. The ultimate goal of FOBH is to offer a centre of medical excellence, improving medical equipment and preventing the need for Bequia residents to travel to the island of St Vincent for medical care.
Project 5 - Bequia Reading Club
Bequia Reading Club was set up by Miss Cheryl Johnson, a former teacher, turned restaurant owner to help young people with their literacy. Local and visiting children of all ages gather every Saturday afternoon at The Fig Tree restaurant to read books with adult volunteers. Cheryl creates a great motivational learning environment, ensuring that each child participates, feeds back what they have read and gains from the experience. Each child can also choose a book at the end of each session to take home with them.
Volunteers at the reading club are also very welcome and it is a hugely rewarding experience.
All suitable reading books are gratefully accepted. Most required are fantasy books for ages 10+.
Project 6 - Rise Up Bequia
Rise Up Bequia is an independent non-profit initiative working for the public interest of the citizens of Bequia, focusing on building and strengthening core ideas and practices of sustainable community development, education, agency and outreach.
The Book Donation Drive was set up in 2014 to help survivors of the December 2013 floods and now supports over 1100 children in every single school on Bequia. The project’s aim is to ensure that each child in Bequia starts the school year with all the supplies they need such as books, pens, pencils and rulers.
