About Us
WHAT WE DO
Our Mission
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.
Every Volunteer Makes A Difference
Our Goal
We’re dedicated to helping St. Vincent and the Grenadines prepare for climate change. Our focus projects include:
Food & Water Sustainability
Establish local healthy food security by building a network of ecological home gardens and small farms with water harvesting systems.
Renewable Energy Resources
Build and maintain off-grid solar power systems to reduce the use of harmful environmental practices in villages.
Climate Change Preparation
Plant mangrove trees along the coastline, organize beach cleanups, aid coral gardeners who restore the seascape, and much more.
Local Community Education
Raise awareness through public workshops while working with the Ministry of Education to introduce climate change curriculum to schools.
COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE
Our Story
The communities of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are among the most vulnerable to the negative effects of global warming. So in 2002, climate activist [founder/person/group], came together with [the people of Saint Vincent] to establish Richmond Vale Academy.
As a registered non-profit, Richmond Vale Academy set out to help the people of Saint Vincent combat the oncoming horrors of climate change in their communities. Since 2007, when we officially opened our doors to volunteers, students have participated in research activities and completed a variety of climate change adaptation projects while working with St Vincent residents.
We’re proud to be a catalyst that motivates and mobilizes, both students and local community members, to build resilience into their lives—while simultaneously developing themselves personally, academically, and socially.
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
Our School
Richmond Vale Academy goes by the name “Another Kind of School” because we aren’t like a traditional classroom. In our school, we believe in “Learning By Doing.” That means our students are hands-on—learning through communication, problem-solving, and lived experiences.
Here’s what our students can expect:
Community Living
You will live a collective life with teachers and participants from many countries with different backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, skills, languages, and education.
Educational Freedom
With guidance from their teachers, we encourage every student to forge their own path and drive their own development.
Dry Campus
We have a policy of no drugs or alcohol because we believe it interferes with our purpose of supporting the people of Saint Vincent.
Our Awards
At Richmond Vale Academy we’re honored to be recognized for our environmental and community contributions.
Energy Globe National Award for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2020
Awarded prize for the Energy Compliance Project.
Energy Globe National Award for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2019
Awarded prize for the Biogas Project.
Energy Globe National Award for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2018
Awarded prize for the Pass-It-On Sustainable Model Garden Project for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Energy Globe National Award for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2016
Awarded prize for the Treelympic Project for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Tourism Social Enterprise Award 2019
Awarded for addressing social problems by applying innovative tourism development ideas.
Treelympics Treeplanting Award 2015
Awarded for being the world’s most active tree-planting country.
Treelympics Treeplanting Award 2014
Awarded for being the world’s most active tree-planting country.
Inter-American Institute on Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Award
Awarded for Climate Smart Agricultural practices in the Caribbean.
Saint Vincent’s Ministry of Agriculture Climate Smart Agriculture Award
Awarded for Climate Smart Agricultural practices by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
TripAdvisor Green Leaders Award
Awarded for being an eco-friendly accommodation that’s committed to green practices.
