UWI Five Islands Students Lead Major Community Clean-Up, Remove Over 4,000 Pounds of Waste

More than 4,000 pounds of garbage were cleared from the Five Islands community during a large-scale clean-up led by The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, highlighting a growing push for civic responsibility among students.

The clean-up, organized through the campus’ First Year Experience (FYE) Programme, brought together first-year students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers in a coordinated effort to improve the surrounding environment.

Participants worked across several key areas, including the stretch from Pensioners Roundabout to Green Apple Café, the Royalton Antigua back gate corridor, and sections of Hawksbill Beach. The initiative resulted in the collection of approximately two tonnes of waste.

Campus officials said the effort reflects UWI Five Islands’ commitment to playing an active role in the community where it operates.

Coordinator of the First Year Experience Programme, Rhajhel Brown, said the activity forms part of a broader approach to student development that extends beyond academics.

“The programme is designed to help students adjust to university life while also engaging with real-world issues,” Brown explained, noting that civic involvement is a core component of the experience.

The initiative received support from several partners, including Royalton Antigua, Akhimo Group, the Rotaract Club of Antigua, Adoptacoastline, Green Apple Café, and Governor General’s Deputy Sir Clare Roberts.

Campus Registrar Dr. Camille Samuel praised the effort, describing it as a meaningful example of the university’s impact on the wider community.

“We want our students and staff to continue contributing to the development of the community we are part of,” she said, adding that similar initiatives will remain a priority.

University officials noted that programmes like the First Year Experience are central to shaping what UWI describes as the “Ideal Graduate”—individuals who are not only academically prepared but also socially conscious and engaged in national development.