Elaine’s has made a second contribution to a regional food organisation through the donation of a vegetable basket to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), reinforcing its commitment to food security, community resilience, and sustainable agriculture across the Caribbean.
The donation was presented to Mr. Allister Reynold Glean, IICA Representative in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, who leads the organisation’s work from its office at the Manor Lodge Complex in St. Michael. IICA continues to play a critical role in advancing regional initiatives focused on food safety, technical cooperation, and sustainable agricultural development.
This marks Elaine’s second formal donation to a regional institution, following earlier engagement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Subregional Office for the Caribbean. The FAO office, established in 1996 and based at the UN House in Barbados, operates under the leadership of Sub-Regional Coordinator Renata Clarke and supports member states by providing policy guidance, technical expertise, and access to global best practices.
The donation forms part of Elaine’s broader “Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef” programme, an initiative that connects craft, community, and environmental stewardship. The programme encourages individuals and groups to engage in crochet projects that raise awareness and resources for sustainable living, while also promoting tangible actions such as home gardening.
Central to the Ridge to Reef concept is the understanding that environmental health is interconnected from upland ecosystems to coastal and marine environments. By encouraging the planting of kitchen gardens, Elaine’s aims to support improved household nutrition, reduce dependence on imported foods, and foster a deeper connection between people and the land. Home gardening also contributes to soil conservation, biodiversity, and climate resilience, all of which are essential to the long term sustainability of Caribbean communities.
Elaine’s believes that small, consistent actions at the household and community level can have a meaningful regional impact.
The vegetable basket presentation incorporates designs sourced from Lennutas, which are used to support educational outreach and visual storytelling within the programme. The creations were completed by participants of the Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef programme – Ms. Karen Roberts and Ms. Esther Harris.
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