June 25th, 2024 – The National Trust for the Cayman Islands proudly hosted the inaugural Cayman
Climate Fair on Saturday, June 15th, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Prospect Playhouse. This pioneering
event aimed to educate and empower the youth of our nation about the critical issue of climate
change, featuring a dynamic exploration of climate science and its impact on the Cayman Islands.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from schools across all islands, with 57 students
competing across various project categories, including poster presentations, artwork, written word,
and drama. The diverse range of projects highlighted the students’ creativity and deep
understanding of how climate change is reshaping our islands.

Over 110 people attended the fair, engaging with the various exhibits and activities. Bella Rooney,
Climate Education Officer at the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, expressed her excitement,
stating, “We are incredibly happy with the outcome of the event and with public engagement! There
was lots of interaction with local stakeholder booths and with the climate change education zone!
Students and the public expressed that they left with a sense of empowerment and felt educated
on some of the ways climate change will impact our Island nation!”

The competition winners hailed from several schools, including Red Bay Primary School, St.
Ignatius, Cayman International School, Clever Fish, East End Primary School, and Homeschool
Cayman. Other schools, such as Cayman Prep and High School and Theoline McCoy Primary
School, were also in attendance, showcasing a united front in the fight against climate change.

Prizes for the top three students across all categories for both primary and high school divisions
were generously donated by the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency (MSCR).
Additionally, prizes for independent categories were provided by supportive local businesses and
organizations, including EcoCay, Cayman Turtle Centre, Next Chapter, Plastic Free Cayman,
Camana Bay, Bre Carle Studio, Mariner Surf Co., Sunset House Divers, Funky Monkey, 3 Girls and a
Kiln, Art Nest, Ryde, Every Blooming Thing, Red Sail Sports, Cayman Kayaks, The Market Street
Group, Parasailing Professionals, Happy Days Paddle & Coffee, Ambassadors of the Environment at
The Ritz-Carlton Cayman, The Farm That Is, and The National Trust for the Cayman Islands.

The judges for the competition included members of the MSCR, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate
Resiliency Lisa Hurlston-McKenzie, Policy Advisor for Resiliency Morgan Golden-Ebanks, and Bella
Rooney, Climate Education Officer at the National Trust for the Cayman Islands.

Several governmental groups and NPOs also attended the event, including Sustainable Cayman,
Plastic Free Cayman, Don’t Pave Paradise, Protect Our Future, Hazard Management Cayman, the
Department of the Environment, and the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency.

“We hope that this will be the first of many Climate Fairs here in the Cayman Islands and can’t wait
to see our Climate Education Toolkit used next school year!” added Bella Rooney.
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands extends its gratitude to our grant funders, RESEMBID, for
their generous support in making this event possible.

About The National Trust for the Cayman Islands: The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is a
non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the natural and cultural heritage of
the Cayman Islands. Through education, advocacy, and conservation efforts, the Trust works to
ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate the unique treasures of our
islands.

About RESEMBID: RESEMBID is a 47-project program funded by the European Union and
implemented by Expertise France, the development cooperation agency of the Government of
France. It supports sustainable human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries
and Territories (OCTs) – Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands,
Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos.
RESEMBID-supported projects are funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France.