Community
Projects
We are supporting existing projects as well as developing new ones, in consultation with local people and according to the needs which they identify.
Start Up Fund
Families with low incomes are given $500 EC to begin a small business. Often families buy chickens, a goat, piglets or seedlings that will provide both food for themselves as well as an income. Each family needs to have a named adult and child working together on the project so that the children learn skills such as farming and developing a business. Regular visits ensure that the families use the money to develop a sustainable business and are given support and encouragement for the first few years.
SPECTO - St. Patricks Environmental and Community Tourism Organization
This is a well established project which Hummingbird HOPE is supporting. SPECTO is a non-profit environmental group which organises activities such as beach clean ups and tree planting to protect the local environment and wildlife. They provide education such as Levera turtle tours to see leatherback turtles nesting.
Literacy Project
The Hummingbird Retreat house has about 3000 books and offers an adult library to the local community. Our collection has about 500 children's books and we are in discussion with a local educational psychologist to offer a pop up children's library. We hope to set up literacy programmes for both adults and children to promote the love of reading alongside access to books.
Pearls Community Project
Hummingbird HOPE owns some buildings in Pearls which were originally built as a church and school. Pearls is an economically challenged area, about twenty minutes drive from the Hummingbird Retreat house. The plan is to develop various community projects at this site in partnership with local residents, such as a counselling and advice centre, a food and clothing bank and life skills training.
