Our Programs

Four programmes, all of them run on this island

Each programme below is governed by a written operating policy, reviewed annually by the board, and staffed largely by volunteers who live in the communities served. Participation is free and open to any resident of New Providence.

Students working with a tutor at a Nassau community centre — Established 1997

Established 1997

Youth Education Initiative

Our founding programme. It removes the everyday costs and gaps that push Bahamian students out of the classroom.

How it operates

Free tutoring in mathematics and English for grades 7–12, Tuesday and Thursday evenings (4:30–6:30pm) and Saturday mornings (9:00am–12:00pm) at the Dolphin Drive centre.
Uniform, shoe and textbook assistance issued each August through a confidential intake managed by two trained volunteers.
BJC and BGCSE examination fee sponsorship, paid directly to the school so no cash passes through the household.
A small scholarship fund of $1,500 per year per student for graduates entering the University of The Bahamas or BTVI.

Public benefit

In the last five years 1,140 students have passed through the tutoring rooms. Of the 214 students we sponsored for examinations in that period, 186 sat and passed at least five subjects.

Volunteer nurse taking a resident's blood pressure at a community clinic tent — Established 2005

Established 2005

Community Health Outreach

A mobile screening service for residents who find it difficult to reach a public clinic — the elderly, shift workers, and parents of small children.

How it operates

Monthly Saturday clinics rotating through Fox Hill, Bain Town, Yellow Elder Gardens and the Carmichael corridor, announced two weeks in advance by flyer and radio.
Free screening for blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index and basic vision, delivered by volunteer registered Bahamian nurses.
Direct written referral to the nearest government clinic for anyone with a reading outside safe range, plus a follow-up telephone call from our office after fourteen days.
Quarterly education sessions on diabetes management, maternal health and elder nutrition, held in English and Haitian Creole.

Public benefit

The clinics see between 90 and 140 residents each month. We do not diagnose or treat; we screen, refer and follow up, and we share anonymised attendance figures with public health partners.

Volunteers replanting mangrove seedlings on a Bahamian shoreline — Established 2017

Established 2017

Local Environment Conservation

Restoring the natural storm buffer along the southern shoreline and preparing coastal households for hurricane season.

How it operates

Monthly mangrove propagation and replanting mornings at Bonefish Pond and adjacent creeks, run with a licensed marine biologist volunteer.
Quarterly shoreline and roadside clean-ups, with waste sorted and logged before disposal through the Department of Environmental Health.
Free household storm-preparedness workshops each May, including a printed checklist in English, Haitian Creole and Spanish.
A schools programme placing secondary students in supervised field days to earn community service hours.

Public benefit

Since 2017 volunteers have planted more than 9,400 red mangrove propagules and removed an estimated 26 tonnes of debris from the shoreline and its access roads.

Adults attending a small business and bookkeeping workshop in Nassau — Established 2011

Established 2011

Family Resilience & Skills

Practical adult education for parents and guardians, so that assistance today becomes independence tomorrow.

How it operates

An eight-week evening course in household budgeting, basic bookkeeping and small business registration, offered three times each year at no cost.
One-to-one guidance on National Insurance, school registration and government assistance paperwork.
A tool and equipment lending library for graduates starting small trades — sewing machines, landscaping equipment and catering supplies.
Childcare provided on site during every session, because that is the single most common reason parents cannot attend.

Public benefit

Roughly 60 adults complete the course each year. Of the 2023 cohort, 19 registered a small business or trade licence within twelve months of graduating.

Who may take part

All programmes are open to any resident of New Providence without charge and without regard to race, national origin, immigration status, religion, gender, disability, age or political affiliation. Where demand exceeds capacity, places are allocated by date of application and household need, assessed confidentially. No participant is ever required to attend a religious service or endorse a political position to receive assistance.

Volunteer on a programme