"One UWI, One Alumni Family" 

On July 21, 2025, in recognition of outstanding achievement among the UWI’s Clubs and Societies in terms of Sustainability, this special prize was awarded to the Cooperative and Projects Society (CAPS) of the St. Augustine Campus, in honour of the Society’s exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainability and the United Nations SDGs – Congratulations to the President, Emmanuel Clement and all the Society’s members (i.e Neylon David, Jonathan Brewster, Joshua Sooklal, Stephen Williams, Daniel Lewis and Shawnson Gordon)! Congratulations too to Professor Mark Wuddivira, the advisor to CAPS who said "I am proud to be associated with the success of CAPS and commend your dedication. Keep up the excellent work! This spirit of excellence is truly inspiring!"

CAPS consistently demonstrated leadership in environmental responsibility, sustainable practices, and civic engagement. Their initiatives directly align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have made a measurable impact both on and off campus. Below is a breakdown of their efforts as they relate to each criterion:

1.     Encouraging Environmentally Responsible and Sustainable Practices
  CAPS hosted a seedling distribution event where students received young plants along with a live demonstration by a professional farmer. This session taught them how to properly plant, care for, and maintain these seedlings. The society also organized a Hydroponics Workshop, giving students’ hands-on experience with soil-free planting techniques and educating them on efficient water usage and food sustainability. Additionally, CAPS collaborated with Hermitage Limestone Ltd. to conceptualize and begin work on a Food Park on campus, which is intended to serve as a sustainable green space for food cultivation and student engagement.
 

2.     Encouraging Club-Level Climate Action
  The society’s Clean Reach Project is an environmental intervention targeting the cleaning methods used across campus facilities. The project seeks to replace toxic cleaning agents with eco-friendly alternatives that are safer for wildlife and help protect waterways. This initiative is particularly focused on removing moss and grime from UWI buildings using sustainable methods. CAPS also extended their climate education by assisting students at SAL Hall with planting a garden. They not only provided the materials but also taught students how to maintain it as a long-term green space.
 

3.     Promoting Sustainability Education and Awareness
  CAPS goes beyond physical activities by ensuring its work reaches a wider audience. Their social media presence is strong, with high-quality coverage of all initiatives. This has allowed their projects and messages to inspire students beyond the St. Augustine campus, including students from other UWI territories. Their digital outreach reflects their dedication to embedding sustainability within the student culture and reinforces UWI’s overall climate action agenda.
 

4.     Providing Experiential Learning Opportunities with Real-World Outcomes
  The Food Park initiative is a clear example of how CAPS ties learning to lived experience. Students are not just learning about food systems and agriculture in theory but are actively involved in growing their own produce. They participate in watering, harvesting, and consuming the crops, which strengthens their understanding of food security and environmental responsibility in real life contexts.
 

5.     Demonstrating Impact Across Multiple SDGs
  CAPS’s projects demonstrate alignment with at least six Sustainable Development Goals:
 

· SDG 1 through their Green Campus Initiative, aimed at alleviating food insecurity
 

· SDG 4 through educational sessions with professionals in agriculture and sustainability
 

· SDG 8 through skill-building and supporting sustainable economic growth via cooperative models
 

· SDG 9 through innovative approaches to sustainability, like hydroponics and chemical-free cleaning
 

· SDG 11 through their work to elevate green spaces such as the Food Park and SAL Hall garden

· SDG 17 through their collaboration with corporate and community partners like Hermitage Limestone Ltd.
 

The Cooperative & Projects Society successfully demonstrated that it has advanced sustainability at the St. Augustine Campus. Through a combination of practical action, education, and partnerships, they have made a notable contribution to the UWI community and beyond. CAPS exemplifies the type of student-led organization that the OURFP Civic Engagement Prize was designed to recognize.