Jason Applewhite & Sara Odle enjoying the post match atmosphere with Hal LInton

Virgo Communications was thrilled to be part of the team that helped make the very first Sentebale Polo Cup such a success.  The Virgo PR team worked with event company Quintessentially, to ensure  maximum coverage and assist in the logistics of the VIP area. Oh.. and the polo was good fun too!

From left: British High Commissioner - Paul Brummell and Virgo Communications Assistant Account Executive - Jason Applewhite

The British High Commission teamed up with The Future Centre Trust to officially launch Green Business Barbados at the residence of the British High Commissioner, Paul Brummel. The British High Commission in conjunction with the Future Centre Trust kicked off the event with a lovely reception. The event, which officially signalled the establishment of the Green Business Barbados program, outlined the Future Centre’s objective to stimulate awareness amongst the local business community and encourage organizations and individuals to become more environmentally responsible.

Virgo Communications, designers of the Green Business Barbados logo, was in on the festivities and had the opportunity to mingle and network with some with some of the individuals who played an important role in getting this program up off the ground and running, including the High Commissioner himself (pictured above).  Highlights of the night were The High Commissioner’s speech and official welcome to the guests, and a presentation  made by Nicole Garofano – Chief Administrator of The Future Centre Trust. Lani Edghill – Project Manager of the Green Business Barbados project also made a brief speech to those in attendance and expressed her deep gratitude to the High Commission’s contribution and support of their initiative.  Fun indeed!!!

Grassroots Community Video Productions
Coordinated by The Future Centre Trust

Grassroots Communities offered video production workshop opportunity.

Twelve persons from local communities throughout Barbados will be given the opportunity to participate in an educational workshop focused on amateur video production and project planning to be held in February 2010. The aim of the project is to teach new skills to assist communities in the application of various funding opportunities with a focus on the Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grant’s Programme (GEF SGP) implemented locally in Barbados and the OECS by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Thanks to consultative work carried out by the UNDP under the auspice of the GEF SGP, it is recognised that communities need to be given alternatives in the process of applying for international funds, specifically under this programme which has a focus of environmentally related projects. Project Coordinator, Ms Nicole Garofano, and Administrator with the Future Centre Trust highlights “funding application procedures can act as a hindrance to the protection and conservation of our environments. It is for this reason that there is a clear need to modify funding application procedures in order to increase accessibility of funds to a larger range of groups”. The Future Centre Trust (FCT) has received funds from the GEF SGP to provide this workshop to further expand the SGP’s ability to assist local communities.

The FCT is inviting persons active within an existing registered community group to participate in the workshop. Content of the course includes learning the basics of participatory video techniques and applications; working with this knowledge within community groups; basic editing; final production; assisting in the development of a training manual; and to assist in the transformation of the GEF SGP grant application process to include video as an authorised medium.

At the completion of the course, these trained individuals will then become resource persons within their community group/s to assist in formulating applications and to also provide a digital avenue for advocacy.
“This workshop has been designed to assist community groups to have access to funds which can improve a community’s self-sustainability”, says Ms Garofano. “As past recipients of GEF SGP grants, The Future Centre Trust is aware of the process that must be undertaken. We feel this workshop will address some of the issues new grantees experience. Ultimately, we would like to see a virtual centre of resource persons who can actively contribute to successful project implementation to increase the capacity of community groups.” she added

Applications are now being accepted for the twelve day course commencing February 8, 2010. Training sessions will run from 10am through 4pm each day and are limited to twelve persons. Participation is on a voluntary basis, with refreshments provided. Participants can be of any age group, however must recognise that at the conclusion of the training, they will be assisting their community and others in the development of project ideas.

All interested persons are asked to contact The Future Centre Trust and its Grassroots Community Video Production workshop as soon as possibly by email at grassrootsvideobb@gmail.com for more information.

Sentebale Polo Club Radio 2010

Over 3000 of Lesotho’s orphans, abused, disabled, ill and most vulnerable children have already been helped by Sentebale who have worked with grassroots organisations to provide financial and management support to 25 projects.

Building on this achievement, Sentebale aims to do more to relieve the suffering of some of the hundreds of thousands of children orphaned by AIDS in Lesotho.

Prince Harry, Patron of Sentebale says:
“Prince Seeiso and I are incredibly proud of what Sentebale has achieved. But HIV and AIDS are killing more people every year, and poverty and drought afflict many more people than we currently are able to help. The situation is critical. It is the children who are suffering the most from this crisis. Without help, the future of this beautiful country and its unique people is very bleak. We believe Sentebale can change this.”

Prince Seeiso, Patron of Sentebale says:
“When Prince Harry and I set up Sentebale in memory of our mothers, we committed ourselves to helping the plight of Lesotho’s children. We wanted to create a memorial to their tireless work by helping vulnerable children and those who have suffered from the AIDS crisis. We are committed to reaching more of Lesotho’s children each year, working hand in hand with local partners to deliver care, health and education. Sentebale’s work is just beginning. We hope the Sentebale Polo Cup will help us to reach the thousands more children who need our support.”

Kedge Martin, CEO of Sentebale says
“Thousands of children in Lesotho have had their lives devastated by the HIV/Aids epidemic – they have very little chance of a healthy and safe childhood and decent future. The aim of the Sentebale Polo Cup, which we are delighted to be launching at Apes Hill in Barbados, is not only to increase awareness of the plight of these children, but to raise vital funds so Sentebale can increase its help to those most in need and very often forgotten.”

This inaugural event of The Sentebale Polo Cup is being hosted by Sir Charles Williams at Apes Hill Polo Club and its title sponsor is the Barbados Tourism Authority.

Some of the Virgo Communications and Inspire teams including Ayanna Victorin, Natalie Griffith, Natasha Hughes, Ruth Ifill, Julie Webster, Odette Moreau, Jason Applewaite, Jared Niles Morris and Riseé Chaderton.

About Inspire Magazine
Inspire is a style guide to the best of barbados. A magazine totally devoted to life and style on the island it “Inspires” a wide range of topics including: Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Events, Destinations, Interiors, People, Sports and much more.

About Virgo Communications, Inc.
Virgo Communications is a full service marketing communication and advertising agency with a diverse portfolio. Areas of expertise include brand development, interactive, creative production, collateral, logo design, research and media planning and buying.

Emma Saba
Virgo Communications
Tel: 246 424 1936
Email: esaba@virgocomm.com