Almost 70 members of 2010 Clemson Wesley Foundation Group visited South Eleuthera for 8 days of service and vocation projects that were organized by Island Journeys. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera– Family Island tourism visits in The Bahamas were up 4% in the first three quarters of 2009 compared to 2008 and further success for a local non-profit known as Island Journeys, derives from their geo-tourism and service programs that offer a rich experience for visitors.

According to National Geographic, “Geo-tourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” Island Journeys supports the concept of sustainable tourism that “destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations – while allowing for ways to protect a place’s character.”

Island Journeys team members await the arrival of the Clemson Group at the Rock Sound Airport. From L-R are: Sandra Ingraham, Deborah Cartwright (back), Violet Cartwright-Knowles and Sterline Morley. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

By bringing together tourism and non-profit organizations, the strategy has enabled Island Journeys and its sister entity, SEEP (South Eleuthera Emergency Partners) to better serve the communities of South Eleuthera. They continuously work on current issues such as healthcare dilemmas facing Bahamians or lack of funds that prevent the offering of better housing, community centers or emergency services. Tarpum Bay native, Shaun Ingraham who is the director for both non-profits has dedicated his energies to these causes as well as the “Save Lighthouse Point” project.

A tired but elated Shaun Ingraham, director of Island Journeys (right), Eric Carey of the Bahamas National Trust (left) and PR/Marketing Agent for Island Journeys, Azaleta Ishmael-Newry welcomed the Clemson group at the Rock Sound Airport. Photo by Jacqueline Gibson, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Eleuthera

One of Island Journeys’ strongest supporters is The Clemson Wesley Foundation from Clemson University located in South Carolina, USA. This year 66 participants (22 repeat and 16 more than last year) chose to engage in a week of service instead of partaking in a typical party-filled spring break. The group adopted the philosophy of “unplugging” by putting aside cell phones, computers and hectic lives to immerse into the Bahamian culture. Second time visitor, Emily Forney, a math major likes to disconnect and not have to worry about studies, although she confessed that she would face 3 exams upon returning home. “Connectivity is overwhelming since the average student receives 30-40 emails per day but when I come here, I get to relax and embrace who I am.”

Dynamic father/daughter duo: Reverend Lane Glaze, director of the Clemson Wesley Foundation poses with his daughter Griffin who was the group’s official photographer. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

“The goal is for participants to come away with a meaningful experience while contributing to the people and economy of The Bahamas,” stresses Reverend Lane Glaze, director of the Clemson Wesley Foundation. ”We adopted Shaun’s advice to “unpack” our minds and enjoy what is before us.”

Clemson’s Nursing and Pre-Med Students 2010. Standing from L-R are: Lindsay Hook, Sallie Wright, Stella Hungerford, Meca Flores, Tara Cooke, Julia Hodges, Catherine Pryor, Jean Banner-Zvara, Helena Williams, Nathalie Gailey, Hailey Floyd and Matthew Floyd. Front row: Professor Janice Lanham and Rachel Graff. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Clemson has made a significant contribution to Eleuthera for 7 years and for the past 2 years, they have chartered a Bahamasair plane from South Carolina to Rock Sound at a cost of $35,000 each trip. It is estimated that over the years, the Clemson Foundation groups have injected approximately $800,000 to the local economy. They reside in Tarpum Bay at rented cottages as well as the Methodist Mission House. Donations have also included 2 school buses, 2 – 15 passenger vans, tools and shipping of fire gear and equipment for SEEP’s volunteer fire fighters. Rev. Glaze has also brought other groups of missioners from North and South Carolina and the group who followed in their footsteps this year was the St. Mark’s Mission who would continue where they left off.

Rowena Culmer (left), one of the Tarpum Bay’s oldest residents who at one time farmed and is a well known bush medicine specialist, chats with a Helena Williams of the Clemson group. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

First on the Clemson itinerary was a welcome reception held at the site of the 200-year-old abandoned All Age Preparatory School (called the Prep for short) that is being restored into a community and arts centre in Tarpum Bay. Local workers were removing stucco from the structure and the noise of the jackhammer and chisels filled the air along with Bahamian music and the delicious aromas of barbequed ribs and chicken, being prepared for the team and other visitors. During the briefing on the centre, Clemson’s Brian Jones immediately signed on, exclaiming, “This is going to be totally awesome when it’s finished and I want to be a part of it!”

All Age Preparatory School, Tarpum Bay - The Clemson group at the 200 year old All Age Preparatory School in Tarpum Bay that is being restored to a community and arts centre. The project bodes well with geo-tourism concepts. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Ingraham encourages visitors to connect to the space they are in so they can understand their surroundings. “Some people connect to a sense of place and culture and the projects that we have provided allows both worlds – the visitor and the locals to come together, to work together, to learn from each other and take away what they have learned.”

Shaun Ingraham, director of Island Journeys (blue shirt) welcomes the Clemson students to the historic site of the All Age Preparatory School, introducing the history, culture and work that will to be completed. Brian Jones, front, immediately signed on to work on the structure. Photo Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

The time and labour that the Clemson group donated to the Prep School project helps to promote conservation, culture and history, all distinctive assets of a place and in keeping with geo-tourism’s principles.

Tarpum Bay men work on restoration of the All Age Preparatory School. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Also on the weeklong itinerary were community development projects and service-learning opportunities in healthcare, light construction, cultural outings to the fish fry, Lighthouse Beach, visits with local families as well as worship at various churches.

Clemson’s Michael Martin chisels the exterior wall of the All Age Prep. School in Tarpum Bay that is being restored to a community and arts centre. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

CLEMSON PARTICIPATES IN ISLAND JOURNEYS’ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

Community development projects like the restoration of The All Age Preparatory School and renovation of an old building in Bannerman Town are vital. They create employment, offer vocation skills, generate income and bring people together to achieve a common goal. Many of the young men in Tarpum Bay and Bannerman Town were happy to be a part of the work since most were unemployed. Island Journeys hired them for 3 days and they freely volunteered for 2 days. These renovations are a huge undertaking that will require numerous fundraising activities and have generated a great deal of interest in the local community and abroad. The students and faculty members assisted by tearing down an old bathroom situated outside the main schoolhouse, removing old stucco as well as rocks from the Prep’s structure, and floor joists were laid and concrete work started.

Bannerman Town Project - Clemson’s students work on re-roofing the vacant building in Bannerman Town that is being turned into a community centre. Photo provided by Clemson

Eugene Carey and Cleveland Knowles co-chair the committee for this project with contractor Paul Knowles, supervising the renovations. “A lot of the business people in the Tarpum Bay community went to school at the Prep and there are many prominent Bahamians who reside in Nassau and abroad who also had their lives positively impacted here. Anyone over the age of 30 studied here and we welcome the support for this outstanding undertaking,” said Eugene Carey. The goal is to turn the centre into a green space that will have a water cistern, composting toilets, a wastewater garden, renewable energy systems and an edible landscape. The Island School/Cape Eleuthera Institute and Tarpum Bay native, Eric Carey of the Bahamas National Trust are offering their expertise. Progress and feedback on the Prep can be followed on facebook ( Tarpum Bay Historical & Heritage Society - The Lil Prep School).

This Bannerman Town building has new life where the Clemson students, working with locals, assisted with light renovations. It will be turned into a community centre. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Further south in Bannerman Town, another team included 25 students and local volunteers where their hard work put life back into a vacant building that will serve as a community centre with a small library and computer lab. They re-shingled the roof, scraped and painted the building, removed an internal wall including termite-infested shutter windows, and installed new windows. Island Journeys purchased the supplies and other donors include Friends of Lighthouse, Marjie Findlay and Geoff Freeman and the Bannerman Town and Millers Community Association. “This will be a fruitful relationship as we are not just doing the project for Bannerman Town but with them,” said Ingraham. “It’s estimated that we have invested approximately $8,000 of material, labour cash and in-kind donations into this project. The next stage is to discuss how they are going to outfit the building with computers and books and finishing the structural part.”

Vocational Service/Nursing - Nursing students completed vocational training at the Weymss Bight clinic in South Eleuthera. Shown from L-R are Professor Janice Lanham, Jean Zvara, Stella Hungerford and Nurse Green. Photo provided by Clemson

CLEMSON IS PART OF ISLAND JOURNEYS’ VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS:

The healthcare clinics and schools are the laboratories for purpose-driven learning and the residents of South Eleuthera have benefited from Island Journeys’ partnerships with the Bahamas Ministry of Health and Clemson’s School of Nursing which has been ranked number 22 in the United States by US News Magazine. Registered Nurse and Clemson Professor Janice Lanham along with Lynn Dobson, an alumni and retired nurse are passionate volunteers who work with the local healthcare professionals. Both women organized the vocation training for the 9 nursing students and 1 pre-med student who assisted at clinics in Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound and Weymms Bight. There were two medical emergencies that included a serious stroke and a heart attack where the students had the opportunity to assist while getting a dose of reality of how Family Island emergencies are handled compared to ones in the US.

Grade 1 Tarpum Bay students share recess time with Devon Bowser, Holly Burchfield, and Kylie Mason. Photo provided by Clemson

“The stroke patient was transported by ambulance (operated by SEEP) from Tarpum Bay to the Rock Sound clinic. The student nurses worked with the local nurses on the patient who was at first unresponsive. Two hours later, she was stabilized and moving her extremities and was flown to Nassau for further care. The nurses became heroes and some of the local people close by said, “Maybe nursing is something I need to do,” said Lynn Dobson.

Senior nursing students Sally Wright and Stella Hungerford, whose efforts were publicly recognized when they returned home, aided in saving a man’s life by resuscitating him after finding he was without a pulse or breath. He was taken to the local clinic where 2 doctors, Professor Lanham, an acute care specialist, and local professionals continued to render emergency procedures to the patient. Once he was stabilized, he was transported to Nassau for extensive care. The situation according to Lynn Dobson had important lessons. “School gives the students the knowledge but here they got the real practice and applied it to a real situation.”

Clemson students meet the Prime Minister - Many of the Clemson group met the Bahamas’ Prime Minister, the Right Honourable, Hubert Ingraham. At left is Professor Janice Lanham and at right is Clemson Alumni and retired nurse, Lynn Dobson. Photo provided by Clemson

While the provision of healthcare on a family island is primarily good, it faces many challenges and evolves around limited resources in personnel, equipment and funding resulting in people working with what they have. Island Journeys and SEEP strive to improve healthcare and medical conditions with assistance from the Government, the local communities, second-home owners and organizations. They also work to educate the young people with school visits that focus on health issues like childhood obesity, grooming and other subjects.

One of those important topics is childhood obesity. It was recently stated by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Hubert Minnis that 70 percent of the Bahamian population, including a great number of the country’s youth are either overweight or obese. This equates to 7 out of 10 Bahamians and this has a great impact on chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes, strokes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Those risks are higher in people who have pre-dispositions due to poor childhood diet.

An educational tool to help combat these issues was the introduction of a colouring book at Tarpum Bay Primary School, titled, ‘Healthy Me from A-Z’ that was produced by a team of Clemson nursing students. The book illustrated the importance of eating and living well while teaching the primary school children how to write. “We wanted to encourage our students to partake in a proactive joint project. As a result, funds were raised in the US and several hundred books were published and distributed to various schools in Eleuthera,” explained Professor Lanham.

“Life experiences cannot be learned in a classroom,” Rev. Lane Glaze told the group during their orientation at the beginning of their week, and most could attest to his statement at the end of their eight days in Eleuthera.

Ingraham is proud of his organization’s geo-tourism, community development and service-learning programs that play an integral part in the rebuilding and improvement of Eleuthera. “All of the endeavours that we invest in are primarily meant to create a more self-sustaining community. We are more interested in process rather than the end product,” he said. “Every project we engage in provides training in sustainability and we are able to do this because of our partnerships and sponsors.”

Island Journeys is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening, transforming and rebuilding communities. Projects include community development through community and volunteer mobilization, disaster relief and recovery, children and youth development and health and wellness and environmental protection and preservation. For more information, please contact Shaun Ingraham at shaundonavon@yahoo.com or visit www.islandjourneys.org