During the first term of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Cari-Bois partnered with the Scotiabank Foundation to empower ten (10) students with climate journalism skills as part of the second edition of Cari-Bois’ Youth Journalism Project. For their first assignment, students had the opportunity to research the effects of climate change on either Trinidad and Tobago or the Caribbean and write a story. This story was written by Sidney Raj of Brazil Secondary School.
In a recent visit to Las Lomas, Cari-Bois was told by residents that they have experienced an increase in flooding because of changing weather patterns associated with climate change.
A community with several water courses, residents said that flash flooding has become more frequent and affected agricultural activities in the area.
But it’s not only frequent, unpredictable rain that is affecting agriculture, it’s also prolonged droughts in recent years which worsen water problems already experienced by the community according to residents.
Since the devastating Trinidad floods of 2018, organisations like The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Red Cross and community groups have started offered free training to better equip residents to be prepared for natural disaster courses.
To date, some of the courses offered include; shelter management, indecent command system, disaster preparedness, emergency vulnerability and capacity assessment
Farmers are also adopting sustainable agricultural practices such as crop diversification and the use of drought-resistant varieties, to cope with changing conditions.
Rainwater harvesting systems are being implemented to ensure a steady supply of water during dry spells.
A very special thank you to the Scotiabank Foundation for supporting the development of young people through initiatives like the Cari-Bois Youth Journalism Project
