Activating Change, One Village at a Time

When La Soufrière erupted on the island of St. Vincent on April 9, 2021 my family and I sprung into immediate action. As residents of the South Windward side of the country, our home turned into a place of refuge for evacuated relatives from the north where the volcano sits. A debilitated social service infrastructure coupled with the depraved political economy of our island meant that many of us would struggle to receive adequate and timely aid. We could not afford to sit and wait. Right away, we began to organize for our own relief and that of the people in our village. 

 

We know that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) are most likely to be negatively impacted by disaster, both natural and unnatural. We also know that disaster creates opportunities for already marginalized communities to be further oppressed. Too often, outside stakeholders purporting to “help” devastated communities end up causing more harm than good by prioritizing their own personal, political and economic interests. The Village Activists was established with the purpose of remedying this persistent problem of aid by providing minoritized individuals and communities with the tools and resources they need to save themselves. 

 

It is our belief that those most impacted by devastation are best positioned to lead their own relief and recovery. We are committed to a future where disaster is an opportunity for social justice rather than exploitation. Indeed, when communities have access to the right resources and tools, anything is possible. With your help, we can create a more humane and equitable world, one village at a time. 

 

In the spirit of community & justice.