BOOST FOR AGRICULTURE AND REFORESTATION IN MORUGA
(L-R) The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability President- Francis Paul chats with Digicel Foundation Operation Manager, Cindy Ann Currency for a media interview at the launch of the project.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2023: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO- The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability is determined to nurture their community and encourage families to get more involved in planting and reaping their own produce. Additionally, the group is also on a mission to develop an arboretum in Moruga which will reintroduce and replant a variety of plant species back into the Moruga Forest.
(L-R) The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability Vice President- Mr James Williams , Digicel Foundation Board Member – Jerren Lewis, The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability Secretary - Kerneil Mitchell, The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability President- Mr. Francis Paul stand for a photo op during the launch of the group’s project on Jan 7th.
The group recently utilised a grant of TTD$100,000 which they received from the Digicel Foundation through its EPIC programme to build a tool shed and shade house in the Bois Jean Jean Village, Moruga. The project was launched to the community and the media on January 7th, 2023. The project funding was used to back fill the land to prepare the site, material, labour and construction of the shade house and tool shed. Funding also covered the cost of water tanks and fittings to develop a rain water harvesting system. The Shade House project will provide the community with a nursery for plants which will range from seasonings, fruit trees and forest trees. The group will also use the space as part of their community outreach and training.
(L-R) Digicel Foundation Board Member – Jerren Lewis and The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability Secretary - Kerneil Mitchell display one of the plants.
The Shade House is just one phase of the wider community initiative for future development of the arboretum. Francis Paul, President of the group shared, “A lot of the forest’s trees have been cut down and families in Moruga are also moving away from planting.” He concluded by expressing that it is the group’s hope that the project helps to bring persons back to the land, so that the community can once again become the stewards of nature.
The Shade House in Moruga will provide the community with a nursery for plants which will range from seasonings, fruit trees and forest trees. The group will also use the space as part of their community outreach and training.
Digicel Foundation Board Director Jerren Lewis was also in attendance and stated “We are proud to be partners on this project that proves to be a sustainable social change initiative address issues of food security, youth involvement and using the simple technology of a shade house to combat harsh weather conditions and climate change.”
The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability is 1 of 10 NGO groups that received $1million TT this year to implement an EPIC project. To date there have been 129 EPIC projects, with an investment of TT$35.1million impacting 63,802 persons in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Moruga 2050 Association for Sustainability Vice President- Mr James Williams takes the team and attendees on a tour of the project.
ENDS
About Digicel
As a Digital Operator, Digicel is in the business of delivering powerful digital experiences 1440 minutes of each day to customers – that’s every minute, all day, every day.
Through its world-class LTE and fibre networks, together with its suite of eight apps spanning sports (SportsMax), music (D’Music), news (Loop), local radio and podcasts (GoLoud), TV streaming, (PlayGo) enhanced messaging and marketplaces (BiP), cloud storage (Billo) and self-care (MyDigicel app), Digicel is the only operator in its markets that can deliver the complete digital experience.
Serving consumer and business customers in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific with investments of over US$7 billion and a commitment to communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad & Tobago, the Digicel Foundation has contributed to positive outcomes for over three million people to date.
With its Better Together brand, Digicel is promising “simply more” to its customers and communities as the company’s 7,000 employees worldwide work together to make this pledge a powerful reality day in, day out.
For more, visit www.digicelgroup.com