The Sandals Foundation has joined forces with the National Sailing Academy (NSA) to provide EC $36,000 funding for 30 students of the Antigua Girls High School and the Five Islands Primary School who will be participating in the NSA’s programme during the 2024/25 academic year.
The NSA’s School Programme offers school-aged children, aged 8-18, the opportunity to learn sailing as part of the school’s curriculum, as a means of recreation or as a career path, a release said.
According to the NSA, sailing has contributed some EC$ 6 million to Antigua’s economic growth, and due to the growing potential of the yachting industry, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has added sailing and swimming to the list of National Sports.
General Manager of the NSA and President and Commercial Director of Antigua Sailing Week, Alison Sly-Adams, said the impact of the NSA School Sailing Programme is significant and set to grow over the coming years.
“The programme is now seeing significant numbers of Alumni working in the industry as skilled professionals who know they have a bright and potentially lucrative future. No other sport in Antigua can offer our young people the number and variety of employment opportunities,” she said.
“As well as developing critical life skills, they have developed an understanding of weather patterns, wind, and the environment. With experience, they have a multitude of pathways available to them [through sailing], whether leisure, sport or as a career. The first step is to get them involved,” Sly- Adams said.
Principal at Five Islands Primary School, Mr Alden James, said the school is grateful to receive such a contribution to support the development of students.
“The scholarship funding which you have offered our students for the National Sailing Academy is indeed an honour,” he said. “This generosity will be financial relief for the parents and will better aid in students’ participation and attendance,” he continued.
Youth development is a core area of focus for the Sandals Foundation, which, according to Executive Director, Heidi Clarke, provides an avenue for the nurturing of transferable skills.
