RABBIT-REARING PROJECT OFFERS T&T A HEALTHIER OPTION
Wrapping up with a group shot! Members of The Digicel Foundation, Shell Trinidad and Tobago and the One Seed for Change Organization pose with residents of the Heights of Guanapo after receiving their certificates of participation on March 3rd.
TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2024, PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Health-conscious consumers will soon benefit from a community project that will increase rabbit meat production in Trinidad and Tobago.
As part of its Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) programme, the Digicel Foundation in partnership with Shell Trinidad and Tobago donated TT$100,000 to the One Seed for Change organisation to train residents from Heights of Guanapo in rabbit farming. The project was part of One Seed’s ‘Fork to Feed’ initiative.
Over eight weeks, 75 trainees learned how to make pellet feed from grasses, how to handle the animals, proper slaughtering methods, and how to cook rabbit delicacies. The project closed off on Sunday 3rd March with a lime at the Palms River in Guanapo where participants talked about what they had learned and discussed their entrepreneurial plans for the future. Participants expressed an interest in creating new dishes, including rabbit gyros.
Speaking at the gathering, Ryssa Braithwaite, Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor at Shell Trinidad and Tobago said, “There is nothing more powerful than when a group of like-minded individuals come together, with a common vision to transform their communities. Shell is proud to have partnered with the Digicel Foundation and One Seed for Change to bring such an important project to the Guanapo community—one that will change lives and improve livelihoods.”
Ryssa Braithwaite, Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor at Shell Trinidad and Tobago gives her remarks and congratulates the Heights of Guanapo community on their success of the One Seed for change’s “Fork to Feed” initiative.
Cindyann Currency, Head of Operations at the Digicel Foundation said, “We’re looking forward to a future of sustainable animal rearing in the Heights of Guanapo, knowing that it all started with an EPIC grant.”
The president of One Seed for Change, Lorraine Waldropt Fergusson, congratulated the participants and promised that their collaboration with the community had only just started. She said, “I am most proud of the fact that the project passed the litmus test of being a successful grassroots model for harnessing the golden talents, entrepreneurial enthusiasm, production passion and wisdom from communities otherwise branded and stereotyped as ‘hot spots’. Through this project, these communities became ‘hot hubs’ for learning, skills training, agricultural entrepreneurship, food production and livelihood improvement.”
Last year, the Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago received 117 applications for EPIC grants. Ten organisations were chosen for a total investment of TT$1million. This year’s EPIC programme focuses on projects in the areas of Agriculture, the Environment, and Renewable Energy.
Rabbit culinary facts (Sourced from WebMD)
● The meat has a mild flavour and tender texture that absorbs seasoning well in stews and stir-fries.
● Lean protein, so won’t contribute to high cholesterol or heart disease.
● A 100-gram portion of rabbit meat contains 29.1 grams of protein and 197 calories. (By contrast, 100 grams of ribeye steak contains 291 calories.)
● Rabbit meat is rich in vitamins B12 and E, while also having a higher concentration of most minerals.
● Low in sodium, so good choice for people with high blood pressure.
● To cook thoroughly, rabbit meat should reach 160°F on a cooking thermometer.
The president of One Seed for Change, Lorraine Waldropt Fergusson recaps the community project highlights with Guanapo participant Antonio on Sunday March 3rd.
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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 majority 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.
Shell Trinidad and Tobago aims to create measurable, positive social impact at the community and national level, and contribute to the achievement of national priorities, through increasing access to education, skills and economic opportunities and improving access to energy.
Our social investment strategy seeks to contribute to economic diversification and livelihood development through Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STREAM) education, community skills and enterprise development, and community development.