A new Business Training Center (BTC) initiative aimed at preparing young people to better understand climate change and natural disasters is set to get underway in Dominica this summer, thanks to funding support from CCRIF SPC.
According to a BTC press release, the organization has launched its Junior Climate Resilience Champions Program, an educational project that will engage approximately 125 children between the ages of 5 and 15 in climate-related learning and community action activities throughout July and August 2026.
The programme, which is being offered at no cost to participants, is supported by a US$22,000 grant awarded through CCRIF SPC’s Small Grants Programme, as per the release. Organizers say the initiative is designed to strengthen environmental awareness, disaster readiness, and responsible citizenship among young people across the island.
The BTC said that participants will be divided into two age groups to ensure lessons are tailored to their developmental levels. Children aged 5 to 9 will be introduced to climate and disaster concepts through storytelling, games, and interactive learning exercises. Meanwhile, participants between the ages of 10 and 15 will explore more advanced topics, including climate science, risk assessment, problem-solving, and collaborative learning activities.
The curriculum will cover five key areas: disaster risk management, climate-resilient engineering, climate education through artistic expression, environmental action projects, and personal capacity development.
Beyond the classroom, students will have opportunities to put their knowledge into practice through a series of community-based projects. Planned activities include tree-planting exercises, watershed clean-up campaigns, community garden initiatives, and visits to local farms.
The programme will also expose participants to some of Dominica’s most significant disaster-related sites. Educational tours are planned to the Hurricane Maria memorial in Pointe Michel as well as communities in the Kalinago Territory that were heavily affected by past disasters. Organizers believe these experiences will help young people better appreciate the importance of preparedness and resilience.
“This program is about planting seeds of resilience in the next generation,” said BTC Managing Director Lucia Stedman. “As hurricane season 2026 officially begins, Dominica knows firsthand the devastating effects of climate-related disasters. By equipping our young people with practical knowledge and skills, we are building communities that are better prepared, more aware, and actively engaged in protecting our environment.”
BTC noted that the programme goes beyond educating individual participants. Through its Climate Champions model, children will reportedly be encouraged to share lessons learned with family members and neighbors, helping to spread climate awareness throughout their communities.
With nearly three decades of experience delivering youth-focused and community development programmes in Dominica, BTC says it is well positioned to lead the initiative and help cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious and disaster-ready citizens.
