The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) is pleased to again welcome on-board the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) as In-Kind and cash sponsor of this important Cultural Heritage Programme.
The support of this community minded organisation has allowed the NCF to continue and expand its initiative to build awareness of and educate a younger generation about the important values of this 161 year old Barbadian institution.
Since the 2023-24 school year the NCF in collaboration with the Barbados Landship Association, the Ministry of Education and the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Ltd has introduced a national programme towards ensuring that the core values of Landship were transferred to our nation’s youth. In its first year, the programme impacted 330 children in schools and teachers reported increased motivation by participants not only to participate in arts activities, but in their academics as well.
In the 2024-25 programmethe NCF pivoted its efforts to focus training on Saturdays in 5 communities. Having started with just over 100 registrants, the community ships have seen steady growth to approximately 150 participants over the past 5 months and the expansion of the groups created from 5 to 7 landships. The community programme has set a target of reaching 250 recruits by August, and 300+ by end of 2025. Meanwhile, the NCF is pleased to report that the BLA has shepherded the continuation of Landships established by the NCF in schools, with 8 of these still active and 4 additional school landships activated or continued by the efforts of their teachers trained in the NCF’s Landship Teacher training programme.
With the key support of the BPWCCUL, the programme is expected to show continued growth as recruits are continually engaged towards refining their performance skills for displays at Crop Over, Season of Emancipation, CARIFESTA and Independence Day.
The 2025 schools and community Landships competition will take place between June and July 2025. The NCF thanks the BPWCCUL or their visionary support for a movement that inspires pride, resilience, fitness and many worthy life skills to Barbadians.
(PR)
