ABCF 6th Anniversary Bus Tour
Members and friends of the ABCF were joined en route by staff of the Chinese embassy in Barbados for a bus tour of the island which started and ended opposite the Bay St Esplanade in St Michael. The highlight of event was a guided tour of the Barbados Institute of Food and Agriculture (BIFA) at The Hope in St Lucy, which is in the final stages of construction. The BIFA is described in the article which follows, excerpted from BarbadosToday, May 28. In addition to The Hope, our bus made stops at Folkestone, Cherry Tree Hill, St John’s Church and Gun Hill, with a longer break at the east coast park for a buffet lunch.
New agri-institute will modernise training, foster entrepreneurs - expert
The new national food and agriculture institute will equip students with the skills to grow food, launch businesses, drive scientific innovation, and generate employment opportunities in a modernised economy, a respected authority on agriculture has predicted.
The Barbados Institute of Food and Agriculture (BIFA) will move well beyond classroom theory, providing practical training in food production, business development, and technological innovation, according to Dr Chelston Brathwaite, Project Consultant to the Task Force on the China Aid Agricultural Development Project.
Dr Brathwaite, the former director general of the Inter- American Institute of Agriculture and the only Caribbean person to helm the hemispheric agency in its 83-year history, is guiding the development of BIFA under a government-to-government partnership between Barbados and China….
Among the career paths envisioned for BIFA graduates are roles in greenhouse technology, irrigation systems, organic agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, agronomy, pest management, marketing, food labelling, nutrition, and plant pathology.
Note: Dr Brathwaite is a Vice-President of the ABCF.
The ABCF hosted the FALCARPC webinar “How to Survive and Thrive in China” on May 30/31 (Eastern Caribbean/China)
The webinar provided insights and advice for international students on studying and working in China, through presentations from experienced speakers.
New students were advised that:
• Learning Mandarin is crucial for maximizing opportunities in China, both academically and professionally
• Networking, cultural immersion, and proactive engagement are key to success as an international student
• There are various entrepreneurial and career paths available to foreigners in China, especially those fluent in Mandarin
• Applying for scholarships and navigating visa regulations requires careful research and planning
Tips for the best student experience included:
• Using language apps, having a tutor, making native speaker friends, and consuming Chinese media
• Cultural immersion is essential alongside language learning
• Avoid isolating oneself from Chinese culture and people
• Travel within China to understand regional diversity
• Pursue internships and part-time work to gain experience
• Network actively through events, student organizations, and alumni connections
• Participate in innovation challenges and competitions
Careers opportunities include:
• UN agencies and international financial institutions. Applying for internships and the UN’s Young Professional Programme (YPP) is recommended
• Translation and interpretation
• Specialized fields like medicine and technology benefit from Mandarin fluency
• Teaching Mandarin is an option for highly proficient speakers
Applying for Chinese Universities and Scholarships:
• Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) offers government scholarships
• Application processes vary by country; embassy websites are good resources
• Some universities offer their own scholarships
• STEM programs often have better scholarship coverage
• Participants encouraged to research specific scholarship and visa requirements for their situations
• Those interested in studying in China should begin language learning and cultural research early.
Video clips will be made available soon. Contact us via ABCF-BB.com for more information.
To all our readers
This weekly newsletter is put together by DeLisle Worrell, President of the ABCF. Visit us at Association for Barbados China Friendship | (abcf-bb.com).
Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this week’s Update. Please send items of interest to me via the contact page at ABCF-BB.com or to info@DeLisleWorrell.com
The ABCF mission is to build a deeper understanding between the Chinese people and Barbadians and Caribbean people from all walks of life. The association’s focus is on personal experiences, people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges and exchanges of ideas, and the facilitation of travel, business and study. From the outset we aim to learn from and build on the experiences of the Caribbean and China, and to develop mutual understandings and support that will be to the benefit of both sides.
