Building a space filled with hope for the future
“Village of Hope”,
a unique space to promote sustainable development
was created during the first UN Global Conference
on Sustainable Development forSmall Island
Developing States in 1994. The late Dr. Colin
Hudson supported by the then Governor-General
of Barbados late Dame Nita Barrow was the
mastermind behind the concept. More than
1,000 volunteers were mobilized to create
this unique space and forty thousand, many
of them school children, visited the 3,000
exhibits at the Village of Hope over the
two-week period of the Conference. Due to
its huge success, a permanent exhibition
site, the Future Centre Trust, was established
to capture the essence of the Village of
Hope. Dr. Basil Springer was invited by Dr.
Hudson to be Chairman of this Trust and a
team of trustees, under the visionary guidance
of Dr. Hudson, initiated the Future Centre
model.
As an educational and scientific exhibition
for tourists, residents and children alike,
the Future Centre Trust introduces many to
several aspects of the social, cultural,
economic and spiritual aspects of Barbados. The
Centre conducts practical demonstrations
of eco-farming, permaculture, alternative
energy sources, water reuses and highlights
related issues pertaining to the environment
and development. The Future Centre
at Edgehill consists of both indoor and outdoor
exhibits, also addressing global concerns
that affect the entire planet and its eco-systems. The
exhibits, including loss of biological diversity,
global warming, genetic engineering of food,
nature conservation, fresh water access,
sustainable development to the tourist sector,
coastal erosion and others, cover several
environmental issues. As a model for other
villages of hope, this Centre in Barbados
can be a real inspiration to other countries,
especially other small islands, as they educate
and inform islanders and tourists on these
issues. It is said that we do not inherit
the earth from our fathers but, indeed, we
borrow it from our children and the Centre
can most importantly build linkages with
youth. By tying up through school curriculum,
a tremendous impact can be had on young people.
In
2001, the Future Centre Trust gave way to
Counterpart Caribbean with Dr. Springer once
again in charge. Counterpart Caribbean's
vision now extends beyond Barbados to include
the Caribbean and is an affiliate of Counterpart
International, a 40 year-old Washington D.C.
based development group with offices in 60
countries. At the Future Centre, Counterpart
Caribbean is concerned with what we need
to do today to preserve planet earth for
future generations. The Future Centre, as
an extension of Counterpart Caribbean, hopes
to develop into a world-class exhibition
model that can be expanded globally on a
self-sustaining financial basis feasible
for other small island states.
The above
photograph shows Dr. Basil Springer, Chairman
of Counterpart Caribbean (right) as he chats
with St. Lucian reporter Ernie Seon.
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