Restoring Education and Stability: How REACT Helped Equip Schools Destroyed by Hurricane Beryl

Pictured: Shanika builds a new computer station with help from Responder Kirsten. Credit: David Bullock

When Hurricane Beryl struck Canouan and its neighbouring islands in the Grenadines, the devastation was widespread. Schools were destroyed, leaving children without the resources they needed to learn, and families faced the heartbreaking prospect of sending their children to mainland boarding schools to access education.

For students like Shanika (pictured above), a bright 10-year-old from Balance, Canouan, this would have meant leaving her family and community behind—a heavy toll for a child already grappling with the loss of her home and school.

A bright and spirited 10-year-old from Balance, Canouan, Shanika is known for her kindness and team spirit. She is not just a pupil; she is a netball player, a helper at school events, and a vital part of her local community.

But after Hurricane Beryl Devastated Canouan’s schools, Shanika faced a devastating double blow: the destruction of her school and her home, forcing her to relocate with her family. At her school, Hurricane Beryl had destroyed every single textbook and computer, leaving students without the essential tools needed for a curriculum heavily reliant on technology and digital learning. The proposed solution was to move students to mainland boarding schools, offering access to education but at a heartbreaking cost - uprooting already vulnerable children from their families and communities. For Shanika, this would have meant disconnection, loneliness, and having to adapt to an unfamiliar environment on top of the emotional turmoil caused by the hurricane.

Education isn’t just about logistics or buildings. It’s about stability, belonging, and allowing children to thrive in the places they call home. Recognising this, REACT Disaster Response deployed Responders Kirsten and David to deliver our Grenadines Education Project, restoring schools across Canouan, Union Island, and Mayreau.

Together with local communities, Responders re-equipped classrooms, provided vital resources, and ensured children like Shanika could stay in their communities, surrounded by the people who matter most. Involving Shanika and her classmates in the process of rebuilding their classroom was so they could all - pupils, teachers and Responders - work to build a sense of ownership and pride. This is not just a school, but their school.

Making a Difference

REACT’s Grenadines Education Project brought transformative change to local schools and communities. By rehabilitating classrooms, we created safe and welcoming spaces for children to learn and grow. Essential digital learning tools, including computers, smart boards, and IT systems, were provided to meet the Caribbean’s curriculum and exam requirements. Most importantly, the project kept families together, ensuring children could continue their education without being uprooted to mainland boarding schools, preserving their sense of stability and community.

Supplies and Equipment:

• Secondary School Computing Labs: Two labs equipped with 26 desktop computers, smart boards, air conditioning, and other resources, enabling 75 students to take their computer-based exams.
• Primary School Computing Suites: Three suites with nine computer stations each, complete with desks, chairs, printers, and other equipment.
• SLT Computer Packages: Five schools received essential tools, including desktop computers, laptops, multifunction printers, shredders, and filing cabinets.
• Textbook Replacement: Every primary school textbook on Canouan was replaced, a £14,000 investment in the future of education.

Education and Community: Moving Forward, Together

The Grenadines Education Project wasn’t just about addressing the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl—it was about empowering a resilient community to rebuild and thrive. Education is more than lessons and textbooks; it’s a foundation for stability and a source of hope. By restoring schools and equipping them with vital resources, REACT helped families and children regain a sense of normalcy, stay rooted in their communities, and focus on rebuilding their lives.

For children like Shanika, these efforts mean not only continuing their education but also growing up surrounded by the people and places they cherish. For families, it’s the reassurance that their children can thrive close to home.