“Many hands make hard work easier” – that’s the sentiment echoed by Philip Smith, Executive Chairman of the Agricultural Development Organization (ADO) as the reimagined Pinewood Community Garden takes shape.
Born out of a partnership between the ADO and the Sandals Foundation, an injection of some US $69,000 from the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts will see to the strengthening and scaling of the Pinewood Gardens Community Farm as a national demonstration site for regenerative agriculture and low-cost organic input production.
The move positions the space a practical, replicable model to tackle food security across The Bahamas.
Recently, the community farm welcomed a donation of food and ornamental plants from Rocky Farms Nursery enhancing the diversity of the space. The collection included yellow elder, hibiscus, banana, coconut as well as fertilizer.
“We thank Rocky Farm Nursery for this donation. It helps those at the farm understand how to grow different food plants and learn how to feed themselves with healthy food grown right here in The Bahamas.”
For his part, Rocky Farms Nursery manager Bruce Pinder saluted the work of ADO, saying, “They’re doing it to better the community, that’s the most important thing. It is fruit trees and other plants, and it is good for the community. I’m glad to help.”
Pinewood Community Garden is one of five community farms created by ADO since its launch just over five years ago. ADO has also assisted with the creation or enhancement of farms at 34 schools across The Bahamas and has packaged and distributed more than 3,400 backyard farming kits.
Through a partnership with Ridge to Reefs (RTR) and the investment of the Sandals Foundation, the team will implement a suite of interventions that reduce farming input costs, promote sustainable land use, and equip underserved groups with the tools and skills to grow food and earn income through small-scale agriculture.
“It is because of the donors who support our projects that we are able to open these farms in the heart of communities,” said ADO Executive Chairman Philip Smith. “The Sandals Foundation helped us to start the garden – we could not have done it without their support and their constant encouragement. Now the team at Rocky Farms Nursery is helping to broaden the range of plants for the community.”
Endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture, at the core of the Pinewood Community Garden project is the establishment of a fish hydrolysate fertilizer production system, converting local fish waste into a nutrient-rich, environmentally friendly fertilizer that improves soil health and crop yields. A companion biopesticide component and seedling propagation hub will support affordable, organic solutions for home gardeners, schools, and smallholder farmers.
Demonstration areas will showcase low-cost farming tools and regenerative techniques suited to Caribbean conditions—including composting, insect exclusion, and solar-powered irrigation systems will be implemented. The farm will also host educational workshops, school visits, and volunteer programs that promote environmental literacy and community ownership.
“Sandals is proud to partner with both ADO and the Pinewood Gardens community,” said Snovakia Watson, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian. “This is the kind of project that builds a stronger, healthier population and a more self-sufficient country. We all experienced what depending on imported goods meant when we went through the 2020 pandemic. We have the means to grow far more of our own and this is a wonderful example of how Sandals can lend a hand to make positive things happen in real time.”
ADO hopes to open a community farm in all 41 constituencies in The Bahamas, with 70 percent of produce grown donated to the community, and the remaining 30 percent to be sold to restaurants.
“This makes our food network more sustainable – and helps people to eat locally grown food, which is healthier,”says Smith.
From the breathtaking Blue Mountain soaring more than 4,000 feet above sea level to the refreshing Dunn’s River – one of the world's most iconic waterfalls, the island’s beauty and community will be on show as the Sandals Foundation brings its premier paediatric fundraising event home in Island Challenge Jamaica 2026.
From October 2- 5, the philanthropic organisation in partnership with Sandals Resorts, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Island Routes Adventure Tours, and British Airways will bring together some 30 UK athletes, local and international partners in Ocho Rios for an unforgettable four-day endurance experience across land and sea.
Covering the parishes of Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary, and St. Andrew, participants will run scenic coastal routes, kayak through crystal waters, trek through Jamaica’s breathtaking landscapes and hike up the country’s famous mountain to raise £100,000 to strengthen neonatal and paediatric healthcare services at hospitals serving critically ill infants and children along Jamaica's northern corridor.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, says the decision to bring the Island Challenge to Jamaica pays homage to the resilience of the nation as families and institutions continue to rebuild stronger after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
"As our road to recovery continues, we wanted to create another opportunity for corporate partners, Jamaicans and the world to share their love and support for our island’s communities. The strength of our health services is fundamental to giving families hope and through this Challenge, participants and partners will positively transform the neonatal and peadiatric care within our hospitals– giving our children a fighting chance,” says Clarke.
For Dr Kerry-Ann McKenzie, Consultant Paediatrician at Falmouth Public General Hospital, the new equipment will significantly improve the standard of care.
"We lost all of our equipment and beds and have been displaced, currently operating with just one single designated bed in our Accident & Emergency department. This donation of equipment from the Sandals Foundation will greatly improve the standard of care we are able to offer to the paediatric population in Falmouth and the surrounding environs.
"Since Hurricane Melissa, our team has shown extraordinary resilience, treating patients in conditions no hospital should have to operate under. We are rebuilding step by step, but the road to full recovery is long, and support like this brings us closer to restoring the level of care our community deserves. For a hospital that has been stretched to its limit since the storm, this isn't just equipment — it's a lifeline that restores our ability to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children," says Dr McKenzie.
The four-day Challenge includes:
Day One: A 8km community run followed by a 10km kayak along the White River Fish Sanctuary
Day Two: An ascent of the world-famous Dunn's River Falls, followed by a 10km rainforest trek and tree planting activity
Day Three: A 21km half marathon through the beautifully preserved Georgian town of Falmouth, passing the beneficiary Falmouth Public General Hospital
Day Four: A military endurance challenge in Newcastle, St. Andrew before conquering partial hike of the Blue Mountain some 4,500 feet above sea level
“The Island Challenge was born out of an idea of the Managing Director of Unique Vacations UK and Europe, Karl Thompson, who has been working to mobilize a number of UK donors and travel partners. To solidify the Jamaican connection, we will also have 15 spots for locals to participate – running side by side in the 21 Km half marathon through Falmouth on Sunday October 4,” says Event Coordinator and Director of Operations at Sandals Foundation, Karen Zacca.
The initiative builds on the success of Island Challenges held in Antigua & Barbuda in 2023, St. Vincent & the Grenadines in 2024, and Saint Lucia in 2025. Collectively, the event has raised more than £300,000, benefiting approximately 1,800 babies across the Caribbean.
Joining the list of local partners making the historic 2026 event possible are Wisynco, Trekkers Adventures, Tour Jamaica Limited, Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica Observer, Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Chukka Caribbean Adventures Jamaica, Forestry Department, Oxford Trading Jamaica Limited, The Best Dressed Chicken, Rainforest Foundation, Mystic Mountain, and Digicel Jamaica. International partners include Hearst, Mail Metro Media, Accord Marketing, Hays Travel, CC Hospitality Group, RedPill, InPrint, Piqniq, Mobile Media and TripAdvisor.
To donate to the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge Jamaica 2026, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/islandchallenge2026.
To register for Day 3 of the Island Challenge Jamaica – https://form.jotform.com/262154934564866
For more information about the Sandals Foundation and the important projects the charity supports each year, visit www.sandalsfoundation.org.
In southwestern Jamaica, thousands of lives depend on fishing. A fleet of small-boat fishers catch fish in handmade pots, supporting not only themselves, but the community of fisherfolk whose lives turn on that catch.
The specially crafted pots allow juveniles to escape, keeping the fishing industry sustainable. In October 2025, powerful winds from Hurricane Melissa tore up the artisanal pots stored carefully along the shore. But new fish pot wire is helping the fishers rebuild their tools and their livelihoods.
Good360 and Sandals Foundation provided 170 rolls of fishing wire in St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland to help restart this crucial industry upon which so many lives turn. Immediately, the community set to work.
Within hours, the new wire was in the hands of potmakers like Natty Watson, 55, who supports his wife who has a disability, and his six grandchildren. Natty, like most fisherfolk in the area, has been out of work since Melissa. But when the wire rolled in, Natty was immediately commissioned for work making new pots for the fishers. Potmaking is a detailed artisanal skill—Natty is locally known for his excellent handicraft. The new work means groceries for his grandchildren, and taxi fare to go back to school.
Damion Heath, 22, is proud to be a fisher just like his grandfather and great-grandfather. But the hurricane destroyed all his pots. Without them, he can’t make a living. But now, he’s rebuilding.
The roll will produce five more large pots, and from there, he can buy more wire, and build his food stall where he can cook and sell his catch.
“Just one of those rolls of wire can feed us for up to six months! It's a jump start, a very big jump start,” he said.
Back on land, waiting for the fisher and there catch are a host of fish scalers who make their living processing fish. Women like Sonia Jameson, who has been out of work since the storm, relying on her children to take care of her. Now that the fishers are going back to sea with new pots, Sonia has work again.
"It's helped me a lot to pay my bills,” she said.
Jelecia Brown, 35, lives in Whitehouse, one of the main fishing villages, and home to a Sandals resort. She has been working only about 25% as much as before the storm, she said. But as the work comes back, she can afford to send her 4-year-old to the nearby preschool, which Sandals Foundation has been helping rebuild. It costs money for the taxi fare and lunch, and which fisherfolk like her can’t always afford without their fish-derived income.
Grace Wilson and Marie Perrin, 55, have been selling fish for 35 years at the famous St. Elizabeth-Westmoreland Border Food Stop, a market of 30 or so stalls along a busy road where tourists and locals alike stop for local delicacies. Grace said the hurricane damaged her house and her business, but without an inflow of fish for her to sell, her rebuilding has stalled. She relies on the catch to be able to sell and make a living, and since the storm she’s had to drive far away to find fish for her stall.
Marie is a fisher as well as a seller, and she and her brother operate a boat nearby. But the storm damaged their pots, and they’ve struggled to pull fish from the sea.
As potmakers in the area build the 850 or so pots that they’ll be able to get from the 170 rolls of wire donated by Good360 and Sandals Foundations, vendors like Grace and Marie will be able to buy the fish they catch. Grace hopes to make money to rebuild her roof, and Marie, her boat. Catch by catch, the famous food stop can come back to life.
As work returns to the fishers, kids can get back to school. Culloden Infant School, a coveted free government preschool, sees children of fishers return when the catch is good. The school gives a critically important start to life, says principal Michelle Whittingham, as it’s where the little ones learn to read. If they miss this step, they can struggle and drop out of school in elementary. Working fishers means the next generation of Jamaicans building a future.
By providing the raw material to jumpstart the economy, Sandals Foundation and Good360 are helping the fishing communities of southwestern Jamaica restart their lives. Donating goods that directly fuel livelihoods goes beyond temporary—but sometimes more visible—assistance, and allows Jamaicans to start a cycle of work, income, rebuilding and even schooling that boosts the whole region and uplifts future generations.
The Sandals Foundation utilizes a two-stage application process to ensure efficiency and fairness in the review of submissions for projects to begin in 2027:
Stage 1: Concept Application (Initial Screening)
• The Concept Application Form will open on July 6 - 27, 2026.
• Applicants are required to complete and submit the Concept Application Form via THIS link.
Submissions will be reviewed based on alignment, feasibility, and potential impact.
Stage 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a detailed project proposal. (A link to the
application will be provided at such time).
• Only invited applicants will proceed to this stage.
Submission of a concept application does not guarantee advancement to the full proposal
stage.
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
• Projects must take place within Caribbean islands where Sandals & Beaches Resorts operate
(Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Curaçao, Turks & Caicos
Islands, St. Vincent & the Grenadines).
• Support may be extended to neighbouring islands during times of crisis (e.g. disaster relief).
STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS
The Foundation invests in initiatives that build local capacity and promote sustainable development,
including:
• Education – school infrastructure, teacher training, digital literacy, scholarships
• Environment – biodiversity protection, marine conservation, environmental education, coral
restoration
• Community Development & Health – youth engagement, sports, culture, mental & physical
health
• Economic Empowerment – skills training (artisans, farmers, fisherfolk), social enterprise
• Disaster Preparedness & Relief – crisis response and resilience-building
FUNDING TIERS
To better align funding with project scope and impact, applications will be considered under the
following tiers:
Small Grants: Up to US $20,000
• Community-based initiatives
• Targeted interventions with clear, immediate impact
Medium Grants: US $20,000 – $50,000
• Multi-component projects
• Broader community reach and structured implementation
Strategic Grants: US $50,000 – $80,000
• Larger-scale or multi-year initiatives
• Strong alignment with Foundation priorities
• Demonstrated capacity, partnerships, and sustainability
Strategic Grants are limited and highly competitive. Only a small number of projects will be
considered at this level each cycle.
PARTIAL FUNDING
• The Sandals Foundation may offer partial funding based on project scope, priorities, and
available resources.
• Applicants should clearly indicate:
- The minimum funding required to deliver the project
- Any confirmed co-funding
PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES
• Local and regional suppliers are strongly preferred to support local economies and ensure
sustainability.
• Where international suppliers are proposed, applicants must provide:
- Clear justification
- Evidence that local or regional options were explored
- Rationale for supplier selection (e.g. cost, availability, quality)
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Organizations must:
• Be legally registered and compliant in their country of operation
• Demonstrate strong governance, transparency, and financial accountability
Projects must:
• Be located within eligible Caribbean regions
• Align with one or more strategic focus areas
• Demonstrate clear community need and support
• Include measurable outcomes and long-term benefit
• Be inclusive, accessible, and non-discriminatory
• Have necessary approvals (where applicable)
INELIGIBLE PROJECTS
The Foundation does not fund:
• Political, partisan, fraternal, labour, or purely religious activities
• Individual grants (unless scholarships or hardship-based)
• For-profit enterprises (unless structured as social enterprises)
• Government entities/agencies
• Activities outside the Caribbean
• Sponsorships, uniforms, or prizes without broader community benefit
• Raffles, giveaways, or unrelated travel
• One-off events without sustainable impact
• Projects lacking community buy-in, approvals, or sustainability
EQUITY, INCLUSION & CRISIS RESPONSE
• Preference is given to initiatives supporting vulnerable or underserved populations
• Projects promoting equity, gender balance, and environmental justice are strongly
encouraged
• The Foundation provides emergency response funding during regional crises
FULL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (BY INVITATION ONLY)
Shortlisted applicants will be required to submit:
• Detailed project overview and objectives
• Implementation plan and timeline
• Comprehensive budget with justification
• Monitoring and evaluation framework
• Sustainability plan
• Supporting documentation (e.g. approvals, designs, letters of support)
GRANT REVIEW PROCESS
Applications are assessed based on:
• Alignment with geographic and strategic priorities
• Clarity of need and proposed solution
• Organizational capacity
• Cost-effectiveness and feasibility
• Sustainability and long-term impact
• Inclusivity and equity considerations
Approved projects will proceed to due diligence, followed by funding and implementation in
collaboration with the Foundation.
Please submit your concept application HERE
