EVA FOUNDATION TACKLES WATER ISSUES AT SOUTH SCHOOLS
Promoting water security with rainwater harvesting at Clarke Rochard Government School, from left to right: EVA Foundation’s Director Keston James, Director Barbara Pardasie and Founder Evangeline Pardasie with Ryssa Brathwaite, Shell T&T’s Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor, Cindyann Currency, Digicel Foundation Head of Operations, Mr. Ramsubhag, Head of Department at Clarke Rochard Government Primary School, and Shandy Anderson of Water Source Ltd.
MONDAY 26 MAY 2025, PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – With the support of the Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago (Shell T&T), the non-profit EVA Foundation has launched ‘Project H2O’, an innovative rainwater harvesting pilot project designed to tackle persistent water shortages in schools across South Trinidad.
Two primary schools, Picton Presbyterian Primary School and Clarke Rochard Government Primary School, have now been equipped with rainwater harvesting systems, each including two 1,000-gallon tanks, guttering systems, filtration units, and monitoring technology. Water usage is high at both schools, with Clarke Rochard typically relying on truck-borne water deliveries every other day to meet the needs of the school’s approximately 400 students. The rainwater collected will be used to flush toilets and irrigate school gardens, increasing water security at the school and promoting environmental sustainability by conserving potable water.
(L-R) Evangeline Pardasie, Founder of the EVA Foundation, proudly displays her “harvesting H2O” t-shirt at Picton Presbyterian Primary School, with the school’s teacher Mr. Mathura (on the left), Shell T&T’s Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor, Ryssa Brathwaite, and EVA Foundation Director Keston James.
“Seeing the rainwater harvesting system fully installed and knowing it will add to the schools’ water supply is a powerful reminder that even simple solutions can create a lasting impact,” shared Evangeline Pardasie, Founder of the EVA Foundation. “Through this initiative, we hope to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and the value of rainwater harvesting, not just within our communities, but in our homes as well.”
The project was made possible through a TT$48,840 grant from the Digicel Foundation, in partnership with Shell T&T, under the 2024–2025 Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) programme. Additional support was provided by Water Source and Rotoplastics, who provided discounts on and donations of essential equipment and gear to install the rainwater harvesting systems.
On Saturday May 10th, Ryssa Brathwaite, Shell T&T’s Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor, Cindyann Currency, Digicel Foundation’s Head of Operations, and Shandy Amderson of Water Source Ltd joined Mr. Ramsubhag, Head of Department at Clarke Rochard, and Mr. Mathura, teacher at Picton Presbyterian, for a walkthrough and ribbon-cutting to officially launch the rainwater harvesting systems at both schools.
A round of applause after the successful implementation of the rainwater harvesting system at Clarke Rochard Government Primary School, from left to right: Keston James, Director, EVA Foundation; Shandy Anderson, Water Source Ltd; Cindyann Currency, Digicel Foundation Head of Operations; Ryssa Brathwaite, Shell T&T’s Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor; Evangeline Pardasie, Founder of EVA Foundation, and Mr. Ramsubhag, Head of Department at Clarke Rochard Government Primary School.
The EVA Foundation is one of 10 non-profit organisations to cop an EPIC grant for 2024-2025, and joins the ranks of 160 EPIC projects completed to date since the programme was launched by the Digicel Foundation in 2016.
ENDS -
About Digicel
As a Digital Operator, Digicel is in the business of delivering powerful digital experiences 1440 minutes of each day to customers – that’s every minute, all day, every day.
Through its world-class LTE and fibre networks, together with its suite of eight apps spanning sports (SportsMax), music (D’Music), news (Loop), local radio and podcasts (GoLoud), TV streaming, (PlayGo) enhanced messaging and marketplaces (BiP), cloud storage (Billo) and self-care (MyDigicel app), Digicel is the only operator in its markets that can deliver the complete digital experience.
Serving consumer and business customers in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific with investments of over US$7 billion and a commitment to communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad & Tobago, the Digicel Foundation has contributed to positive outcomes for over three million people to date.
With its Better Together brand, Digicel is promising “simply more” to its customers and communities as the company’s 7,000 employees worldwide work together to make this pledge a powerful reality day in, day out.
For more, visit www.digicelgroup.com
About Shell Trinidad and Tobago:
Shell has been in Trinidad and Tobago for over 100 years and has played a major role in the development of its oil and gas industry. With operations in offshore and onshore blocks (both operated and non-operated) as well as a shareholding in Atlantic LNG, the sixth largest liquefaction facility in the world, Shell Trinidad and Tobago delivers an integrated gas operation to supply the petrochemical market and Atlantic LNG.
At Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited, we continue to work together with Government, Communities and our partners to add value and contribute to the country’s further development and to maximize the benefits of Trinidad and Tobago's hydrocarbon resources to the country.