Caribbean Team Visit to Richmond Vale Academy: Promoting Sustainable Nutrition in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Global CFaH
This January, Global CFaH Caribbean-based research associates, Catherine Brown and Khadija Patel, returned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to visit a selection of households participating in project interventions. Community-based organisation Richmond Vale Academy (RVA) has been working with participants since late 2024, supporting them in establishing backyard gardens by providing seedlings, equipment (including manure and fencing), and education on sustainable, organic farming techniques.
The purpose of the visit was to re-engage with participating farmers who already had backyard gardens established through the project, and who had recently expanded their systems to include chicken coops. These coops were built by RVA staff within participants’ gardens. Young chickens were delivered to ten participating households in August 2025 and began laying eggs in September 2025. The visit provided valuable insight into how the initiative is positively impacting families and their communities.
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Visiting Households with Chicken Coops
The day began at RVA, where the team met with project leads Trine Wendelboe and Marvin Douglas. Before setting out, the team shared a refreshing glass of okra punch and discussed the plans for the day’s visits - a warm and welcoming start to what became an inspiring experience.
The team travelled from RVA to five of the ten households with chicken coops. At each home, the coops were well maintained, and the chickens in each household were healthy and thriving. Participants reported that each chicken lays approximately one egg per day, resulting in an average of 11 eggs daily per household.
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Across the households, there was a clear sense of pride and commitment in the way participants cared for their chickens. Eggs are collected daily and are primarily used for household consumption, contributing to improved nutrition and food security. In addition to meeting their own needs, participants also highlighted the benefits of having surplus eggs available to sell or share with neighbours and family members. This has provided a small but meaningful source of income for some households, while also strengthening community connections. What stood out most was the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. The majority reported little to no challenges in managing their coops. One participant shared a particularly practical solution for managing odour, explaining that local charcoal is used to help reduce smells from droppings. Encouragingly, the success of the intervention is also generating interest beyond the participating households. Several participants noted that others in their communities have expressed interest in starting similar initiatives, asking how they can get involved.
Participants continue to receive support from RVA, which has recently developed a Chicken Layer Manual outlining how to build and manage a chicken layer system, as well as the nutritional benefits of egg consumption. This resource will be made available to anyone interested in learning more and potentially starting their own poultry venture.
Overall, the visit highlighted the meaningful impact of the intervention, not only in supporting household nutrition and livelihoods but also in inspiring broader community interest and potential for future expansion.