Background & Justification
The 4-H Movement was established in Barbados in 1962 by the Ministry of Agriculture as a means of attracting youths between 7 and 25 years of age to become actively involved in agriculture, home economics, art and craft, health and personal development projects.

Its mission was:

- to stimulate youth's interest in agriculture

- to provide opportunities for 4-Hers to participate in agricultural diversification projects, especially non-sugar enterprises

- to offer a wide range of social programmes likely to attract and maintain the interest of the youth, thus providing significant opportunities for leadership development, and

- to facilitate increased youth participation in community and national development.

For approximately twenty years the Movement was administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, through its Agricultural Extension Division. At the beginning of the 1980's, the 4-H Leaders Council and Private Sector individuals approached the Ministry of Agriculture with a proposal to establish a Foundation to oversee the operations of the 4-H Movement.

The Ministry supported the proposal and on the 28th April, 1982, the Barbados 4-H Foundation became a registered charitable organisation under the companies' Act Chapter 308 of the Laws of Barbados.



The Mission of the Barbados 4-H Foundation

The drafters of the Foundation's constitution intended that the 4-H Foundation should not have the same control over the 4-H Leaders Council as the Ministry of Agriculture had. Rather, they saw the Foundation - through its Board - as being:

a) a link between Government, the private sector, 4-H Leaders Council and the general public,

b) a supporter and fund raiser,

c) a promoter of the 4-H philosophy and ideals among the wider community, and

d) an adviser to Government, the Private Sector and the 4-H Leaders Council on the form and direction of the 4-H programme.


Indeed, the Memorandum of Association describes the purpose of the Foundation as follows:

a) to provide a means of communication between 4-H members, 4-H leaders, 4-H parents, the Ministry of Agriculture, friends of 4-H and the public generally;

b) to encourage 4-H members and leaders to gain a better understanding of and to participate more fully in the 4-H programme;

c) to encourage the involvement of National Service Organisations, the business sector as well as other members of the community in the 4-H programme;

d) to help interpret the purpose of the 4-H programme and to help people understand how that purpose can be achieved;

e) to provide leadership to the 4-H programme in Barbados in the capacity of an advisory body to the Ministry of Agriculture and the 4-H Leaders Council;

f) to encourage and promote development of 4-H members and leaders through leadership development programmes and recognition;

g) to in any way assist in the realisation of the aims and objectives of the 4-H programme in Barbados.


The 4-H Foundation through its Board exercises it management responsibilities in the following ways:

1) it selects the Chief Executive Officer
the (Executive Secretary),

2) it employs the staff of the secretariat, and

3) Government's subvention and all donations of property are made to the Foundation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides the Foundation with its headquarters, technical staff and an annual subvention . The Ministry's subvention is used mainly for administration. The private sector and international agencies provide project specific funding.



4-H Today

The Movement during the late 70's had approximately seventy-five (75) clubs with a membership of approximately three thousand (3000). Regrettably this has fallen to its present level of thirteen (13) clubs with a membership of approximately five hundred (500).

The Foundation cognisant of its mission has spent the last two (2) years in consultation with the 4-H Leaders Council re-evaluating the programme of the Movement and looking at methods to make it more relevant to the youth of our country.

During this period we have entered into discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Public Sector and International Agencies. Through IICA we have been afforded the opportunity to send a team (Messr, Hunte, Haynes, Harbin and Mrs. Phillips-Jones) to Dominican Republic and obtain first hand knowledge of their Rural Youth Programme (FUNDEJUR). Partners of the Americas also organised visits (Mr. Haynes) to 4-H USDA in Washington and 4-H in Rensselear county Albany, New York for a first hand view of 4-H programme in action.


Present Projects

1) The pilot farm project funded and assisted by the Partners of the Americas and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

2) The rabbit project assisted by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

3) The seed project assisted by the 4-H Alumni members.

4) The establishment of the 4-H Alumni organisation to assist with programme areas.

Mission of the 4H in Barbados
The Mission of the Barbados 4-H Foundation

The drafters of the Foundation's constitution intended that the 4-H Foundation should not have the same control over the 4-H Leaders Council as the Ministry of Agriculture had. Rather, they saw the Foundation - through its Board - as being:

a) a link between Government, the private sector, 4-H Leaders Council and the general public,

b) a supporter and fund raiser,

c) a promoter of the 4-H philosophy and ideals among the wider community, and

d) an adviser to Government, the Private Sector and the 4-H Leaders Council on the form and direction of the 4-H programme.


Indeed, the Memorandum of Association describes the purpose of the Foundation as follows:

a) to provide a means of communication between 4-H members, 4-H leaders, 4-H parents, the Ministry of Agriculture, friends of 4-H and the public generally;

b) to encourage 4-H members and leaders to gain a better understanding of and to participate more fully in the 4-H programme;

c) to encourage the involvement of National Service Organisations, the business sector as well as other members of the community in the 4-H programme;

d) to help interpret the purpose of the 4-H programme and to help people understand how that purpose can be achieved;

e) to provide leadership to the 4-H programme in Barbados in the capacity of an advisory body to the Ministry of Agriculture and the 4-H Leaders Council;

f) to encourage and promote development of 4-H members and leaders through leadership development programmes and recognition;

g) to in any way assist in the realisation of the aims and objectives of the 4-H programme in Barbados.


The 4-H Foundation through its Board exercises it management responsibilities in the following ways:

1) it selects the Chief Executive Officer
the (Executive Secretary),

2) it employs the staff of the secretariat, and

3) Government's subvention and all donations of property are made to the Foundation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides the Foundation with its headquarters, technical staff and an annual subvention . The Ministry's subvention is used mainly for administration. The private sector and international agencies provide project specific funding.



4-H Today

The Movement during the late 70's had approximately seventy-five (75) clubs with a membership of approximately three thousand (3000). Regrettably this has fallen to its present level of thirteen (13) clubs with a membership of approximately five hundred (500).

The Foundation cognisant of its mission has spent the last two (2) years in consultation with the 4-H Leaders Council re-evaluating the programme of the Movement and looking at methods to make it more relevant to the youth of our country.

During this period we have entered into discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Public Sector and International Agencies. Through IICA we have been afforded the opportunity to send a team (Messr, Hunte, Haynes, Harbin and Mrs. Phillips-Jones) to Dominican Republic and obtain first hand knowledge of their Rural Youth Programme (FUNDEJUR). Partners of the Americas also organised visits (Mr. Haynes) to 4-H USDA in Washington and 4-H in Rensselear county Albany, New York for a first hand view of 4-H programme in action.

Projects
Present Projects

1) The pilot farm project funded and assisted by the Partners of the Americas and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

2) The rabbit project assisted by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

3) The seed project assisted by the 4-H Alumni members.

4) The establishment of the 4-H Alumni organisation to assist with programme areas.