By educating people from St. Vincent and the rest of the world, Richmond Vale Academy aims to build the capacity, knowledge and confidence in its students. By achieving personal growth and development, future leaders of St. Vincent and of the world will take action for a more just and more sustainable world.
The effect of Climate Change are already affecting Small Island Nations and the poor are the most vulnerable. With that in mind, the Climate Compliance Project started in 2012. A small group of teachers and volunteers from Richmond Vale Academy will together with a big group of Vincentians make our island and people ready for climate change. Through research, creation and implementation of projects in nearby villages, promotion, and by example, students will work to prepare the people of the Caribbean for the dangers of Global Warming.

Community living sharing the different responsibilities like baking bread, making jam, cleaning, cooking breakfast, doing dishwashing - basically doing what it takes to live your life -shared with others.
Then comes the Climate projects like planting trees, implementing organic home gardens with families, teaching in schools and communities, making a beach clean up, holding an Open Day, presenting and holding presentations for the public and much more. You work with your team in smaller Trios -together with the Vincentians making this country ready for Climate Change.

Le programme est composé de 1/3 d'études et de 2/3 de pratique. L'objectif est de donner aux volontaires les moyens et les connaissances pour mobiliser les locaux et les impliquer dans leurs projets (par exemple, impliquer une famille dans la construction de leur jardin, leur enseigner de manière active la permaculture).

About the 6-month Climate Program :
Climate Change and Sustainability: Concepts and Best Solutions
Understanding Climate Change and environmental sustainability.
The team immerses in study and research activities to learn
about Global Warming and climate Change. Sustainability and
Ecological Farming. We learn and discuss possible solutions for a food, water and energy secure future and how we can better protect the environment.
Applying Knowledge to Practice: Hands-on Experience on Campus
Practical Projects and studies learning from RVA's Campus Climate
Center, learning by doing: Preparing and implementing
projects on campus which can include expanding the vegetable and
livestock production. Increase the nursery capacity and rainwater harvesting while learning more about ecological farming and community mobilization. This experience builds skills that you will then apply in the communities.
Taking it to the Communities: Working as a Team in Real Settings
The team moves into a rural Caribbean community and carry out activities for a more sustainable future, ranging from teaching in schools, planting trees supporting families to grow more healthy food. Promote ecological farming or carry out beach, river and community clean up. The evenings are to immerse in the village cultural life.
Reflection and Consolidation: Analyzing and Communicating What You Learned
Further Studies, Actions and Telling Your Story. Here the team consolidates
their experience and engage in deeper reflections as a team, while also implementing self-designed projects with people in the communities or at the RVA Climate Center. A focus on how to creatively tell the story about how to protect the environment and create a more sustainable future. A final celebration of the experience is held with evaluations and hosting an open day with the people they have worked with during the program.

There are 5 student corridors with 40 rooms. Each room occupies two persons. There are shared bathrooms in the corridors - one for Women and one for Men. The rooms are simple with no extra. There is a pillow on each bed - people bring their own sheets - twin size. 

Out of the 6 months you live 2 months in a small village in smaller groups of your team. 

We have 2 cooks employed who cook Lunch and Dinner. We cook Breakfast on shift along with dishwashing and cleaning of pots and pans. We share 3 meals a day, Breakfast at 7 am, Lunch at 12 and Dinner at 6 pm. Sundays breakfast at 9 am, lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 6 pm. We do accomodate vegetarians and vegans as well. There is plenty of fruits in between meals. There are 3 meals on weekends as well. Cakes are baked for special events and birthdays.

The economy in SVG is based on tourism and agriculture. English is the official language and Creole is the native. The country is peaceful and safe for foreigners, but the criminal rate has gone up because of the raising drug traffic. Richmond Vale Academy has a solid backing from the Vincentian population as well as from the Government. At the Academy we have some importantly security measurements which we uphold like not hiking or swimming alone. Climate Change is hitting poorer countries the hardest and Saint Vincent isone of the poorest island nations in the Caribbean and one of the world's most disaster prone countries with a small population and many poorly built residencies as well as limited infrastructure.
Climate Change means more flooding and hurricanes. In July 2024 a hurricane, category 4 hit St. Vincent and especially the Grenadines where thousands were without public water, with heavy destruction of roads, bridges and houses and left hundreds in shelters. We are in the process of restoring the homegardens we made in the Grenadines because they all got destroyed in the wake of the hurricane and we are out in the schools teaching children about Climate Change.

We live in the middle of the beautiful Vincentian nature with lots of space for hiking . The sea is 10 min away and swimming, snorkling and jumping from the cliff are used extensively. There is a gym and La Soufriere the volcano is a days hike with an experienced guide. Chateaubelair is 20 min away with a local restaurant and friendly people. You can go by boat to Falls of Belem, walk to Dark View Falls and many other beautiful places. Daytrips to Kingstown are done regurlarly with van or taxi. There is a Botanical Garden and other sites to visit.

There are no special technical requirements for participation in our programs, but you must be 18 years of age, healthy, and willing to integrate into the work and collective life of our program. Successful participants are motivated and enjoy working hard with their teams!
We have a clear policy about appearance in public, as well as a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drug use during your participation in our program.
An important part of the training and learning involves working closely with different cultures, and you will work daily with people from all over the world and from St. Vincent. While in the program and working with our communities, you are ambassadors representing your countries. We have developed a set of policies based on decades of experience, designed to ensure your safety and successful integration into St. Vincent communities.

The project starts March, August and November, for a duration of 6 months.

The participation fees cover the 6 months - you only need pocketmoney and your ticket to arrive here.