By Robert Andre Emmanuel and Samantha Simon
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Reporting from Codrington
Life on Barbuda is often characterized by its relaxed and laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, but few opportunities for its youth to spread their wings and enhance their own careers.
Last week, Observer media sat down with two women hoping to transform the lives of secondary school students on the sister isle, letting them see beyond the shores as they pursue their own passions and career paths.
The Future Project was founded in the United States in 2011 by Kanya Balakrishna and Andrew Mangino with the idea of turning youth from ordinary into ‘rule-breakers, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.’
In Barbuda, Project Lead, Allison Trunzer, and Dream Coach Darlene Beazer-Parker, are hoping to replicate the successes exhibited in the United States on the 62 square miles of Barbuda.
“We’re not here as traditional teachers,” Trunzer explained. “We’re external facilitators looking to bring a fresh perspective to education on the island.”
The Future Project stands on three sturdy pillars of mentorship, volunteerism and career guidance, taking a non-traditional route to education, focusing less on textbooks and curricula but on supporting student-led initiatives, supporting teachers and ensuring parent and community engagement.
“Each one of the students have blown me away from day 1, so… it’s about what they have to give, and we just let them know that we’re here to talk about what they want to do in their futures.
“A little 12-year-old boy came up to us and said I want to plant trees and grow fruit for people, and I told him if you wanted to come back and talk about it.
“He came back with his plan, serious as day, how he wants to plant fruit trees, spoke about how many fruit trees he has already, and he just wanted the opportunity to get his future started.
“We’ve been meeting with him like almost every day for this week, and we’re already drafting his plan where we’re going to find the piece of land, where we’re going to plant the trees, who is going to water them, etc.”
The project, funded by the Coco Point Fund, and now in its third week, has already made waves at the McChesney George Secondary School where students are encouraged to start after-school clubs based on their interests, while teachers are receiving resource grants to enhance their classrooms.
“Our plans for the upcoming weeks—because we just got started—are to have some sort of open house with the parents so that they can understand who we are, what it is that we’re offering the students, and what we’re here to support with.
“Also, to get the teachers to be more involved as well with their particular classes; what was explained to us is that when the student is in trouble, that is when they need to come and meet the teacher and so, we’re trying to create a positive culture in that you want you to come in, meet with us, we want to show you the great work that your child has been doing,” Trunzer noted.
The Future Project is facing its fair share of challenges, including finding male mentors and fully integrating with the existing school system; however, the team remains optimistic.
“We’ve been trying to onboard a male mentor because for us, as females, we can do the best job that we can, but there is a different energy and a different response when you are learning from somebody who represents who you are.
“So that has been one of our challenges getting started because there are not as many males in this field, full-time in Barbuda,” Trunzer explained.
She added that they have been able to get someone to support them part time on a three-day-a-week basis.
The project team’s plans include expanding career guidance opportunities and facilitating student participation in off-island college fairs.
While the project is currently contracted for one year, both facilitators hope to create sustainable systems that will benefit Barbudan students for years to come. “Our goal is to eventually step away and have these positive changes continue without us,” Trunzer affirmed.
