Program Reviews

When I first arrived at Richmond Vale, one of my first tasks was to accompany another member of the group into the food forest. It was still early, and everything was still damp from dew. We found a single mango in one of the trees, a really big one and late in the season, so it was really lucky for us. This was my first experience living in a sustainable community, and though it was soon followed by many others at RVA, that first morning stayed with me throughout my time on St. Vincent.

Richmond Vale Academy is an amazing place, beautiful caribbean views, amazing jungle around. this academy is working 100% with solar energy, they have an organic vegetables garden and a fruit forest, chickens too, so the eggs always are fresh, to relax and enjoy the time is amazing, for the development programs are really good, but very strong, is an activist academy, not a ¨normal school¨ so if you want to relax go in a tourist way but if you want to impact and help people you will have a lot of work because you have to develop yourself before to develop the world.

so go enjoy your time, i recommend it but be focus first in what you want to do...

I know there are special programs and studies for personal development. But nothing can compare with experience personal development- that is true knowledge. This is what happens to you when you join a program at RVA. You learn so much about the world, the earth and what we are doing with it. We really are parasites on Mother earth in today's society. You learn a lot of things that makes you sad and angry, but you also learn that there is hope! There is a way, and you are going that way in this program where you are actually out in the communities making actions on what you believe in! You also learn how to teach others in a simple way so that they also can start doing something to save our world.

You live like you learn, along with your morals and in a nature that you thought only existed in books with photshoped pics. All people who comes to RVA are good hearted people, so prepare to make lifelong new friendships along with the challenges that comes with working in a team.

There is no way you are the same person when you first enter Richmond Vale Academy as when you leave.
You are the better you.

Do it for the world. Do it for you!!

Richmond Vale Academy is defiantly another kind of school. Here you have a lot of different opportunities to learn, not just about the subjects we study but also about yourself and the world around you. For me it has been one of the most vigorous learning experiences I have had. The program Fighting with the poor offers a great way to discover you own capability to do somethings that makes a difference for others, especially those who needs it the most. Besides this the life at the school have many things to offer, you will live and work together with people from all over the world sharing experiences, ideas and make them come true. To those who interested in this program I also have to say that sometimes it is not easy, it can be very challenging, there might be things that are not always perfect but personally i think this just makes the experience so much more awesome.

The program FWP is for people want to do something for the people, if it's your interest come and do it, but if not, don't take, you will be in other place really quick.
For you, if still you are reading this, I will say, the experience you will have is unique in your life, combine the experience to live with different persons in the world and help, grow in the timing you work with the communities and living different challenges

I have learned so much about what negative impact we are making on our climate and it is even the smallest things that contribute. Saint Vincent is a country, among so many that needs to be taught about how we can contribute, however big or small in taking action as a climate activist. One of my highlights was visiting a number of schools and giving presentations about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Many products are exported and imported worldwide, but yet the Vincentians have the potential to produce food on their own doorstep - eat organic, healthy food, reduce carbon emissions and support their own economy. Many of us from here and across the world need to rethink how we shop, use energy or other things that make a difference to our planet, good or bad. This experience has changed my point of view on our climate and planet. The fossil fuels, for example won't last forever, as many of us think and if we carry on doing this, we are destroying our home planet more and more. People from all walks of life can join this programme, whether they are an 18 year old student or a middle aged lawyer - it doesn't matter. What does matter is Earth is our home and we all need to take care of it because we are part of this biodiversity, therefore this is why we are alive today.