Hydrate Caribbean expands school water station project to The Lodge

Students of The Lodge School are celebrating a healthier, more sustainable future as Hydrate Caribbean officially rolled out Phase Two of its national water station project.

The initiative, supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Barbados Diabetes Foundation, is to ensure students have daily access to chilled, purified water, while encouraging the use of reusable stainless steel bottles instead of disposable plastic ones.

Although a shipment delay means the bottles should arrive by late November, Hydrate Caribbean spokesperson Sheridan Greaves assured students that every child will receive one before the school term ends.

“At the end of this project, every secondary school in Barbados will have a fully maintained water station and reusable bottles,” Greaves said. “This is about more than hydration — it’s about shaping healthy habits and reducing plastic waste for the next generation.”

The newly appointed senior prefects, Head Girl Makeena Clark and Head Boy Daniel Griffith, were the first to test the system, marking a symbolic start to the next stage of the campaign.

Phase Two will extend beyond The Lodge to include St George Secondary, Princess Margaret Secondary, and Christ Church Foundation. The long-term goal is to expand the programme into primary schools, where infrastructure challenges are often even greater.

Greaves explained that the advanced water stations, each valued at roughly $15 000 plus annual maintenance, are designed for high-demand school environments. Unlike traditional fountains, these stations are serviced by Newport Water Barbados within eight hours if issues arise.

“The water station often gets neglected, it stops working, and in a couple months, students are back to square one, drinking from taps, drinking from bathrooms, quite unsanitary conditions, spending money on water,” he explained. “So this programme is an answer to that problem.”

Sister Wendy Beaman, representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described the project as a humanitarian mission with lasting community impact: “This is about health, sustainability, and ensuring children grow up with better habits. The church is proud to support an initiative that lessens plastic waste while giving every child access to clean, cold water.”

The project also ties into the Barbados Diabetes Foundation’s health drive, which seeks to educate students on the importance of water consumption and active living to help reduce future health risks.

As students gathered to celebrate the launch, Greaves urged them to take responsibility for the station: “This is not my water station, or your teachers’ station — it belongs to you. Take care of it, use it wisely, and let it serve as a reminder that small changes in your habits can lead to a better lifestyle.”

(LE)