The Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef Project’s, Barbados inspired, art installation was presented to the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday 15 January at Government Headquarters, Bay Street. The project was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This presentation formed part of the project’s closing activities under its current grant-funded remit, marking the culmination of the community empowerment and environmental awareness partnership of Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet (ECC) and BYBT. The donated work, commissioned and arranged by ECC with New Age Plastics, was created by crochet artisan and project participant Sybil Fiedler. The piece interprets Barbados’ coral reef ecosystem through crochet, serving as both a cultural artefact and an environmental narrative.
The Prime Minister’s Office represented by the Director of Protocol Jessica Odle-Baril, who received the artwork on behalf of the Prime Minister, acknowledged its cultural significance and its contribution to preserving Barbados’ creative and environmental legacy. “This is singularly a collaboration like none another. Both critical to our cultural and environment landscapes but also showcasing the participatory relationships between agencies like UNDP and governments who are willing to support projects like the Roofs to Reefs.” stated Mrs. Odle-Baril.
GEF SGP UNDP National Coordinator Dr. David Bynoe, who was also in attendance, indicated that there are cross-cutting issues that the programme addresses. “Women empowerment, gender equality, youth empowerment, poverty reduction and so when we program, we keep these issues in mind.”
This donation marked the fourth installation under the grant-funded phase of the project, reinforcing its legacy of situating intangible cultural heritage within spaces of national, historical, and environmental importance. Handcrafted crochet coral reef replicas were previously donated to the Folkestone Marine Park & Museum in Holetown and the Barbados Museum & Historical Society at the Garrison. Additional works are exhibited publicly at Norman Centre through Elaine’s Creative Studio, and further installations were shared with government offices across the Caribbean. Project proceeds were also donated to the Coral Reef Restoration Alliance (CORALL) Barbados in support of coral reef outreach and conservation initiatives.
Launched in 1992, the GEF SGP UNDP supports community-based action with global environmental impact. Through technical and financial assistance, civil society organisations and communities are enabled to implement projects addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste, while also advancing poverty reduction and local empowerment. Under this framework, Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef was implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, demonstrating how community-based cultural practice can meaningfully contribute to environmental stewardship.
While the grant-funded phase of Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef has formally concluded, Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet will continue to implement the programme’s workshops at its studio location in Norman Centre. Additional information on the Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef project is available on the social enterprise’ website, elainescaribbeancrochet.com
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