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Forbes
30-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How This Changemaker Is Empowering Caribbean Communities From The Inside Out
Executive director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke. Courtesy of the Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke—a fifth-generation Jamaican with a background in child psychology—never set out to run a multi-island nonprofit. Back in 2009, she was volunteering in schools and helping run her husband's sailing company in Tobago when she got a call from Adam Stewart. At the time, Stewart was the CEO of Sandals Resorts, a Caribbean-based hospitality brand known for its all-inclusive properties. (He's now the executive chairman.) Stewart had an idea for what he called a 'small project'—to turn the company's long-running community work into something more formal. Would Clarke help build a new charitable arm? She said yes—without realizing just how far that project would go. Sixteen years later, Clarke is the executive director of the Sandals Foundation, a philanthropic powerhouse operating across more than a dozen Caribbean islands. Under her leadership, the Foundation has helped build green schools, fund scholarships, support women-led farming cooperatives, restore coral reefs and launch countless programs aimed at strengthening communities and protecting the region's natural resources. 'When you see change happening,' she told me in an interview, 'it keeps you driven.' Heidi Clarke, executive director of the Sandals Foundation, alongside three women volunteers. Courtesy of the Sandals Foundation Clarke brings a unique lens to the work. Raised in Kingston, she studied education and child psychology, then spent years volunteering in Caribbean schools before formally stepping into the nonprofit world—and her background still informs Clarke's mission and the mission for the Sandals Foundation. 'Education underlies everything we do,' she says. 'Whether it's environment or health—education is the foundation for all of it.' Clarke's leadership style is warm and collaborative. She jokes that she has 20,000 people working for her, since everyone at Sandals and Beaches plays a role in the Foundation's work. But her immediate team is just eight people strong. 'Everybody here has a voice and something to bring to the table,' she says. 'You have to be able to lead from the ground up and from the top down. And if we work as a team, we allow each voice to be heard.' One of Clarke's biggest priorities is ensuring that every project the Foundation undertakes is driven by local needs. 'We're not the experts at everything,' she says. 'So what we've recognized is that within our communities, there are grassroots organizations that are doing incredible work and they just need assistance to scale up what they're doing.' Over the years, she's cultivated a model built on partnership and trust—aligning closely with community leaders, government stakeholders and local changemakers to build programs that are sustainable and scalable. Making Authentic Connections One of the most powerful examples of that model in action is the Foundation's long-running partnership with the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP). What began as a small effort to provide basic training and infrastructure has grown into a thriving collective of 65 women farmers. Today, they're selling fresh produce to local hotels, operating a coconut processing facility and hosting farm-to-table lunches that allow travelers to connect with the land—and the women—who make it all possible. Two women farmers from the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP) stand proudly in a lush, tropical field, each holding freshly harvested squash. They wear matching purple GRENROP shirts, smiling beneath the Caribbean sun. Courtesy of the Sandals Foundation Theresa Marryshow, GRENROP's president, grew up on her family's farm and has spent her career advocating for women in agriculture. With support from the Sandals Foundation, the group now has access to cold storage to prevent spoilage, modern irrigation systems and ongoing business training. 'My program isn't just about growing food,' Marryshow told me in an interview. 'It's about cultivating resilience, financial independence and community. We're also able to amplify our impact by welcoming visitors to the island and into our story—ultimately helping more women create better futures for themselves and their families.' 'This is one of the projects I'm most proud of,' says Clarke. 'What's unique is that now they're showcasing the best of the Caribbean to our guests and many other guests on the island. So they have a sustainable income, and people are experiencing authentic Grenada. I've seen them grow from strength to strength. The spirit of empowerment runs through nearly every initiative that the Sandals Foundation touches—from early childhood education and job training to environmental conservation and mental health support. In the Bahamas, for instance, a partnership with the Bahamas Girl Guides Association (BGGA) helped complete the group's long-awaited national headquarters, providing a hub for workshops, skill-building and overnight programs designed to support girls and women across the islands. 'The Sandals Foundation's support has been nothing short of transformative,' Dr. Ruth Sumner, president of the BGGA, told me in an interview. 'We're helping empower women to grow, learn and thrive, and the Foundation's donations are essential to making that happen, from comfortable beds for the girls to sleep in, to appliances for skill-building workshops. We're sincerely grateful for the support, and together we're creating life-changing experiences for women across The Bahamas.' Protecting The Land The Foundation's environmental work is just as expansive. In recent years, it has helped establish coral nurseries, manage marine protected areas and implement sustainability programs in schools across the region. But perhaps the most innovative initiative is the Coral Restoration Certification Program, which allows guests at Sandals Resorts to become certified 'coral gardeners' through specially designed PADI courses. Guests at Sandals Royal Bahamian can become certified 'coral gardeners' through the Sandals Foundation's Coral Restoration Program, which combines hands-on conservation with unforgettable underwater experiences. Courtesy of the Sandals Foundation 'The dives that they go out on—learning about the corals, coral planting—not only are they learning something and being exposed to beautiful Caribbean oceans, but all of those dives are also giving back,' says Clarke. This kind of hands-on engagement is a hallmark of Clarke's approach. While the Foundation is fully funded by Sandals Resorts International—meaning 100% of donations go directly to programs—she sees travel itself as an opportunity to build bridges. Guests can browse local goods in on-property artisan markets, join fish fries and street parties throughout the islands, and visit nearby schools through the Reading Road Trip program. That initiative brings travelers into local classrooms to read with students, share stories, and get a firsthand glimpse of island life beyond the resort. 'We want people to come to the Caribbean and really experience it,' she says. 'Yes, the beaches are beautiful—but the culture, the people, the potential, that's what makes it special.' Making A Lasting Impact And the model is working. Today, the Foundation supports artisans across multiple islands, has helped plant more than 27,000 trees, has supported some 2,300 schools and has provided health services to hundreds of thousands of people across the Caribbean. What's next? Clarke is doubling down on linkages between tourism and local economies—particularly among farmers, fishers and makers. She's also finishing a master's degree in counseling psychology to deepen the Foundation's approach to mental health, an area she sees as increasingly urgent. 'We work with a lot of abused young people. We work with pregnant teens. We work in the jails,' she says. 'When we;re looking at programs, we want them to be very holistic. It's not just coming in to do one component. And mental health is a very big thing.' Clarke says the best piece of advice she ever received was a simple idea: 'We're not here for ourselves,' she says. 'We live on this planet to serve others.' It's a mantra she returns to often—along with another favorite, shared with her own children: 'Find the stars in your coffee.' In other words, focus on the little things. 'It's the small moments that make life worth living,' she says. 'Each day, I remind myself: Your job is to uplift someone—through your words, your actions, even just a smile.' Clarke may not have planned to lead a regional nonprofit, but her steady vision and deep sense of purpose have helped the Sandals Foundation evolve from a 'small project' into a long-term force for good—one that empowers communities, invests in people and reimagines what tourism can do. "Heidi has been a driving force behind the Sandals Foundation's growth and impact since its inception,' Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, told me in an interview. 'She is a thoughtful and empowering leader, committed to lasting change across the Caribbean while uplifting those around her and earning the love and trust of the communities we serve. She meets challenges with steady guidance, grace and practical solutions, forging a path for the Foundation to become the powerful engine for transformation it is today. More than anything, Heidi is a cherished member of the Sandals family and her unique vision continues to shape not just what we achieve, but how we achieve it: with heart, purpose and unwavering commitment." For Clarke, it's all about people—meeting them where they are, listening closely, and helping create the conditions for lasting transformation. As for her legacy, Clarke keeps it simple. 'I think for the next generation, it's about helping them understand that you don't have to start big,' she says. 'It's just about having a passion and taking the next step—because that's kind of how I've done it, learning along the way. And it just takes doing something for one person to realize how impactful that is.' And for anyone wondering whether they can make a difference, she offers this reminder: 'At the end of the day, wherever we go and whatever we do, we have potential to make positive change and be those changemakers.' MORE FROM FORBES: Forbes How A Small Hotel In Jamaica Is Making A Big Difference By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes How Two Accidental Hoteliers Created One Of The World's Coolest Hotel Brands By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes How This Hospitality Visionary Is Rewriting The Rules Of Luxury Travel By Laura Begley Bloom
BBC News
18-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Derbyshire school shortlisted for global award
A school in Heanor that was heavily criticised by inspectors a decade ago has been shortlisted for an international award in honour of its community Gate Spencer Academy was branded "inadequate" by Ofsted inspectors in 2013 but has been rated as "outstanding" since it has earned a nomination in the Community Collaboration category of the World's Best School Prizes event, organised by educational platform T4 Education, in recognition of its work with a local foodbank, care home and boxing Matt Jones told the BBC he wanted his school to be "at the heart of the community" rather than just being about classroom lessons. Mr Jones said the school had stepped up its community involvement since the Covid pandemic."There have been a lot of people involved in the evolution of the school," he said."It's not just academic success, rising through the ranks Ofsted, but also developing community partnerships." "I think Covid brought us all together as a community."There was a lot of work to do to support families through that period. Money was tight and we had to do as much as we could to try and provide support that was more than education and our school did fantastically well."The school has teamed up with Heanor's Salcare Foodbank with pupils working to help cut the stigma for people using this have also collaborated with a local primary school to help residents in nearby care homes and children from the school regularly have boxing coaching at the Full Power Fitness 14, welcomed the school award nomination, saying: "I think it is a great opportunity for the school to be seen and noticed and it makes me proud that I am part of the school."When I was told it [the award scheme] was worldwide I was shocked that we had made it into the top ten." T4 Education founder Vikas Pota said: "It is in schools like Heanor Gate Spencer Academy where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future. "Congratulations on becoming a finalist for the World's Best School Prizes 2025. Leaders and schools around the world have so much to learn from this inspirational Derbyshire institution."There are four other categories in the competition and the winners will be announced at the World Schools Summit in the United Arab Emirates in November.
Times
17-06-2025
- Times
Mother, Annabel Rook, fatally stabbed before gas explosion
A mother feared murdered inside her London house before a suspected gas explosion can be identified as a dedicated community worker. Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally stabbed inside a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, northeast London, just before 5am on Tuesday. Scotland Yard detectives are investigating after the mother of two suffered catastrophic stab wounds before the gas explosion rocked the affluent neighbourhood. She died at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said a 44-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of murder. LILY SHANAGHER/PA The man was taken to hospital to be treated for non life-threatening slash wounds. Two children, aged nine and seven, were taken to hospital but they were not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the explosion. Friends paid tribute to Rook, who co-founded Mamasuze, an arts project for vulnerable people including women and children who are survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence. 'Theatre for social change really works,' she recently wrote online. 'I have been working with marginalised and displaced people for over 20 years. 'I believe the ability to play and create should be a fundamental human right and in my work I aim to enable people to be creative and help them find their voice. 'We build a strong community through offering diverse workshops in different art forms that nurture creativity, foster social connections and rebuild confidence and identity. 'Helping women to build a more positive future for themselves and their families.' Neighbours told of their shock after the explosion tore through the two-storey terraced house with a loud bang before the sound of glass shattering was heard. Halil Youdjel said: 'There's no chance you couldn't hear it. There was suddenly a bang and screaming and shouting. Then I looked out the window and saw glass everywhere.' Another added: 'It woke me up at about 5am this morning. It sounded like something dropping. There was an impact and then rubble falling. I think I heard a faint voice too. 'It didn't sound like an explosion, more like a wall coming down.' Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the two-storey terraced house shortly before 5am on Tuesday. Police and paramedics were also called to the property in the borough of Hackney. SWNS Residents described hearing a bang and the sound of glass shattering. One man, who did not wish to be named, said he heard a crash 'like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane'. He added: 'I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn't a car window. Eventually, I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back. There was a guy rushing around, very distraught. He went round the back.' A 76-year-old neighbour said: 'I was asleep upstairs and heard a sudden bang then I saw all the glass on the floor. I was worried. Everybody on the street came out in their pyjamas.' Another neighbour said: 'I'm pretty sure it was two bangs I heard. There was lots of glass shattering. I knew it wasn't a car crashing because it sounded like lots of glasses had been smashed.' Police and the London Fire Brigade are investigating the cause of the explosion, which was brought under control by firefighters in about 40 minutes. SWNS LILY SHANAGHER/PA A fire brigade spokesman said: 'Sadly, one woman was pronounced dead at the scene. One man was also found at the property suffering injuries.' Darren McTernan, the fire station commander, added: 'Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area for most of this morning while investigations into the cause of this incident are carried out. There are road closures in place on Stoke Newington Church Street from the junction of the A10 to Defoe Road. Residents should also note that Kersley Road is completely shut at this time.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I just want to help, says new 18-year-old councillor
A student who has been elected as a councillor in Lancaster, has told how he made the move out of a desire to make a difference to his community. Eighteen-year-old Wilson Colley will represent the Green Party in the city's John O'Gaunt ward, getting almost double the votes of his nearest rival in the recent elections. He said he joined the party after feeling "very disappointed with the performance of the main parties in government" who were not offering "any real hope of real change". "We're the only party offering a real alternative to austerity", said the first-year law and politics student at Lancaster University. He said: "I found myself doing work with the Greens in John O'Gaunt, particularly helping out in alley cleans and door knocking, asking about issues. "I found out that I really enjoyed this community work and I would like to do it in a more official capacity. "The opportunity came up that we needed a candidate, I stood and got chosen." Wilson, who credited his passion for politics down to his father's influence, continued: "Don't get me wrong it is laborious and at times dull, I don't think anyone on the council can deny that, but it is important so I feel like that justifies the time and effort put in. "I can't say that I will enjoy every aspect of the work - some of it will be gruelling and bureaucratic, but it is necessary and it needs to be done correctly. "By getting in, I can ensure that it is done in that manner." Beyond his current life as a student, Wilson says he has not thought too much about a long-term career in politics. "Ultimately, I want to help my community as best I can, he said. "I want to help advance the Green Party's agenda, so we will see how that leads me in the future." Young people in politics is of course not unheard of. Labour MP Sam Carling was just 22 when he won his seat last year in north-west Cambridgeshire, and Wilson believes young voices in politics is crucial. "There has been less participation amongst the youth, which is a very concerning thing," he said. "We feel the effects of current policy in the long term, whereas many of those in politics may not. "It is crucial that youth have a significant voice on government in every level." On his current to-do list, Wilson admits the issues will be typical of most city councillors. "We've got issues of littering, fly tipping and dog muck. Just standard stuff that we deal with," he said. "I believe politics on a community level is really where change can happen" However, he admits he is not quite yet done with the student life too. "Becoming a councillor has meant that I will sacrifice a fair amount of my spare time, but I'll be sure to make a little bit of time for the student lifestyle." he said. "Even if it is a bit calmer and more civilised". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Labour 'reeling from shock' of losing councillors Sam Carling: Meet the new youngest MP, born in 2002 Reform UK announce new leader of county council
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
I just want to help Lancaster, says new 18-year-old councillor
A student who has been elected as a councillor in Lancaster, has told how he made the move out of a desire to make a difference to his Wilson Colley will represent the Green Party in the city's John O'Gaunt ward, getting almost double the votes of his nearest rival in the recent said he joined the party after feeling "very disappointed with the performance of the main parties in government" who were not offering "any real hope of real change"."We're the only party offering a real alternative to austerity", said the first-year law and politics student at Lancaster University. He said: "I found myself doing work with the Greens in John O'Gaunt, particularly helping out in alley cleans and door knocking, asking about issues."I found out that I really enjoyed this community work and I would like to do it in a more official capacity. "The opportunity came up that we needed a candidate, I stood and got chosen." 'Young people crucial' Wilson, who credited his passion for politics down to his father's influence, continued: "Don't get me wrong it is laborious and at times dull, I don't think anyone on the council can deny that, but it is important so I feel like that justifies the time and effort put in."I can't say that I will enjoy every aspect of the work - some of it will be gruelling and bureaucratic, but it is necessary and it needs to be done correctly. "By getting in, I can ensure that it is done in that manner."Beyond his current life as a student, Wilson says he has not thought too much about a long-term career in politics."Ultimately, I want to help my community as best I can, he said."I want to help advance the Green Party's agenda, so we will see how that leads me in the future."Young people in politics is of course not unheard of. Labour MP Sam Carling was just 22 when he won his seat last year in north-west Cambridgeshire, and Wilson believes young voices in politics is crucial. "There has been less participation amongst the youth, which is a very concerning thing," he said."We feel the effects of current policy in the long term, whereas many of those in politics may not. "It is crucial that youth have a significant voice on government in every level."On his current to-do list, Wilson admits the issues will be typical of most city councillors. "We've got issues of littering, fly tipping and dog muck. Just standard stuff that we deal with," he said."I believe politics on a community level is really where change can happen"However, he admits he is not quite yet done with the student life too. "Becoming a councillor has meant that I will sacrifice a fair amount of my spare time, but I'll be sure to make a little bit of time for the student lifestyle." he said. "Even if it is a bit calmer and more civilised". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
