Sandals Foundation: Family Volunteering in Paradise

By Lisa Frederick
3 Min Read

Imagine a Caribbean vacation, and what comes to mind? Sun-dappled waves? Certainly. Fruity drinks? Probably. Volunteering? Doubtful. But Sandals Resorts, well known for its all-inclusive properties throughout the Caribbean, is on a mission to change that.

The Sandals Foundation, now in its fifth year, was established to foster educational, environmental and community improvements on its host islands. My friend Kim and I recently visited Beaches Turks and Caicos, which is under the Sandals umbrella, and we each got to join a different volunteer excursion — both rewarding in totally different ways.

Sandals Foundation Enid Capron Primary School — One of the Sandals Foundation’s major initiatives in Turks & Caicos is supporting the faculty and students of local schools in need, such as Enid Capron Primary School.

I went for the Reading Road Trip, a program that provides support for Enid Capron Primary School on Providenciales (a.k.a. Provo). Located in a pocket of the island that’s seen its share of economic hardship, the school and many of its students are pressed for the resources they need. To help, Sandals Foundation has led initiatives that range from donating backpacks filled with supplies to raising funds for classroom computers.

Beaches Enid Capron Primary School first grade classroom — The smiles say it all: First graders at Enid Capron love having Sandals Foundation volunteers come to read to them.

I was charmed the second we arrived: the reigning Little Miss ECPS was there to greet us and escort us inside (wearing her sash and tiara — adorable!). We split into small groups and headed for the classrooms to read stories to the younger children and lead lessons for the older ones.

Their attentiveness and enthusiasm made the entire visit delightful, and it was sweet to see how the kids in our volunteer group immediately grasped what it means to make a difference to students their own age. If there’s one thing kids can relate to, no matter the country, it’s their peers.

Sandals Foundation mangrove planting — Beaches Resort guests plants baby mangroves on Little Water Cay, also known as Iguana Island, to stop erosion and preserve its ecosystem. Photo courtesy of Kim Rawls.

Kim opted for a tree-planting trip to Turks & Caicos’ Little Water Cay, a short boat ride from Provo and a habitat for endangered rock iguanas. The small island has had major erosion problems in recent years, putting the animals at risk.

Sandals Foundation partners with the Turks & Caicos National Trust on efforts to stabilize the beach — and thus protect the iguanas — by planting mangrove trees, which are native to the area. The process isn’t difficult, so it’s perfectly suited for kids to help.

Sandals Foundation mangrove planting iguana — The mangrove volunteer welcome committee. Photo courtesy of Kim Rawls.

Between the instant gratification of seeing all the freshly planted mangroves and the chance to take a dip in the pristine waters off the cay, Kim said it was a fabulous afternoon. The coolest part? Getting up close to the iguanas, which roam by the hundreds all over the island. What kid wouldn’t love that?

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Relevant Links:

Beaches Turks & Caicos review and highlights for families

Warm-weather spring break ideas

Six Caribbean islands for kid-friendly bliss

Editor’s note: Ciao Bambino volunteered with Sandals Foundation as part of a media trip to experience Beaches Turks and Caicos. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Lisa Frederick unless otherwise noted.

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1 Comments

John Barton says:

9 years ago at 3:02 pm

Greetings, I am currently a special education consultant and psychological services provider. I am a former school administrator. I know quite a bit about educational assessment and have studied educational systems first hand in Russia, Cuba, Australia and New Zealand. I am interested in volunteering any services that you might find useful.

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