The power of Community

Hello, my name is Mónica, I am from Portugal and join Richmond Vale Academy (RVA) as part of a 2-year program that started in Denmark. In RVA you will meet people from all over the world, who, most of the time come from a very different context than you. During my time in RVA, I had the chance to share my life with people from Colombia, France, Germany, Austria, Costa Rica, Belgium, New Caledonia, Japan, North Korea, Norway, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Denmark, Brazil, and Saint Vincent. The common life and the friendships one develops are the best and the most challenging part at the same time. Sharing home, meals, cooking, and cleaning duties with close to 50 people can be challenging but it is also through this you learn about different cultures, learn more about your own country, learn to be more emphatic, and make friendships that will follow you when you leave.
The Climate Activist program has both theoretical and practical components. You will have courses about Climate Change, Coral Reefs, Caribbean History, Organic farming, and also some specific topics - in the case of my team was about mangroves. There is also a practical period both in RVA and in the communities. My team was responsible to improve the tree nursery and create 2 pathways that connect the school to the beach, through a fruit forest. During this period we had the real chance to team building, develop our leadership skills, and witness the power and the things you can accomplish when you work together.
Later on, we moved from RVA to nearby communities to develop the Mangrove project - for me, this was the most exciting period. When we live in the school we don't get the real feeling of Vincy culture, costumes, and its people. But when you move out everything changes! Everyone I met in SVG is super friendly and happy to share their stories with the students. Life happens more locally and there is a big sense of community.
It also comes with some difficulties, but nothing that one can not overcome with the support of its teammates. You'll learn so much about yourself and enhance your beliefs toward a more sustainable and conscious life.
RVA is located quite far away from everything on the island, so, if you want to move around to visit and explore the beautiful nature and landscapes be ready to spend some money since public transportation is very low on weekends and without actually schedules. Always remember to enjoy your time here!