The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE), in collaboration with Island Green Living and the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, proudly announces the launch of the Seeds of Security educational program. This pioneering initiative is set to ignite a movement of sustainability, food security, and environmental stewardship across the Territory, marking a significant step forward in the USVI Agricultural Plan’s commitment to integrating agricultural education into PreK-12 schools.
Under this innovative program, students and educators will be empowered to take meaningful action to create a more sustainable and resilient future for our islands. Every public school across both the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts has been selected to pilot this transformative program, positioning them as leaders in food sovereignty and sustainability initiatives.
VIDE State Sustainability Director, Cydney Meadows, emphasized the program’s potential impact, “As we embark on this journey together, we are calling on visionary educators and leaders to form a ‘Sustainable Council’ within your respective schools. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of creating lasting change. We invite you to nominate three passionate individuals from your team who are ready to make an impact through sustainability efforts that will ripple far beyond the classroom. The Seeds of Security program will choose 16 educators to participate in year 1 and a waitlist will be created for engagement with future schools."
Members of each school’s Sustainable Council will have access to funding opportunities, professional development, and exclusive training, empowering them to lead their school’s sustainability efforts and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Seeds of Security will place schools at the center of driving climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices across the Territory.
This initiative is more than a program it’s a movement. Each school will become a hub for food security, climate resilience, and sustainability, sowing the seeds for a future that reflects our shared values of environmental stewardship. The Virgin Islands Department of Education is thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking initiative and invites educators, students, and community leaders to join in sowing the seeds of a sustainable future.
For additional information about the Seeds of Security educational program, please contact VIDE State Sustainability Director, Cydney Meadows, at cydney.meadows@vide.vi.
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Download press here: pdf Press Release 0911 24 VIDE Launches “Seeds of Security” Educational Program (171 KB)