Blog

Visitors to our Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Center for Marine Resource Studies have long enjoyed its many vibrant murals, but alums will tell you that there is more to them than meets the eye! Students of SFS’ TCI programs raise funds for schoolbooks and supplies for the local South Caicos community in exchange for wall space for their contribution to the Center’s growing collection of murals.
 

The most recent addition to TCI’s murals, created by the Winter 2022 cohort.
 

In recent months, these murals and students’ efforts have been more important than ever. Since welcoming students back to TCI six months ago for the first time since Covid, contact with local schools has had to remain limited for the safety of the local community. But this has done little to dampen SFS students’ impact! Their connection to the community remains as strong as ever. These murals have raised nearly $6,000 in the past six months, providing for multi-lingual books to the Calgary Baptist School, musical instruments to the Iris Stubbs Elementary School, much needed repairs to the South Caicos children’s playground (materials are on their way to South Caicos, thanks also to the support of Sailrock Resort), and textbooks for Marjorie Basden High School students. Alumni have pitched in too, donating a box of soccer cleats and field equipment that was delivered earlier this week.
 

TCI Health and Wellness Manager Sarah Meyers with donations to the community.
 

A huge thank you from SFS to all those who raised funds, shipped boxes, and rallied their home communities to support their South Caicos community. We may be wearing masks and social distancing, but SFS student impact is as strong as ever!
 

The Fall 2021 cohort’s mural.
 

The Summer 2021 cohort’s mural.
 

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Curious to learn a bit more about the SFS Turks and Caicos Islands Center? Click here to read about why we’re based there, our environmental research focus, how we connect and support the local community, and even take a tour of the Center.