Amid the series of eruptions from the La Soufrière volcano, parts of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and neighbouring islands have been blanketed in ash and smoke since April 9. To provide support and relief to those affected, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is mobilising its resources and expertise.

Consistent with its traditional emergency assistance protocols, The UWI will activate a two-phased approach to the response. The first phase is a rapid response in the deployment of relief aid and experts to assist in the areas of greatest need, in close coordination with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and its National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO). The second phase concentrates on the mobilisation of expertise in the rehabilitation response.

In this immediate phase, The UWI encourages its staff, students, alumni, friends and partners to join in contributing financial resources with special priority towards healthcare, education and displaced students left vulnerable following the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano.

The University has coordinated three primary ways to give:

1. The UWI Alumni Online donation platform
https://www.uwi.edu/alumnionline/RallyRoundSVG

2. The UWI Open Campus Bank Accounts
EC$
CIBC Open Campus Disaster Relief Fund Account Number: 106933692
SWIFT Code: FCIBAGAG
Address: Old Parham Road Branch, P.O. Box 28 St. John's, Antigua
Tel: 1-268-480-5000 Fax: 1-268-480-5140/1

US$
CIBC Account Number: 10424000
Correspondent Bank: Wells Fargo Bank, New York
SWIFT Code: PNBPUS3NNYC
ABA Code: 026005092
Beneficiary Bank: First Caribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited
SWIFT Code: FCIBKYKY
Beneficiary Account Name: The University of the West Indies
Beneficiary Account Number: 10424000

3. The American Foundation for The UWI (for North American donations ONLY)

Via www.afuwi.org. Please note Saint Vincent and the Grenadines next to ‘Add special instructions to the seller’.

Pledge via mobile phone by texting DONATE (all caps) to 1-864-402-8943.

Send a cheque by mail - Make payable to American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI). Kindly write St Vincent Donation in the memo section.

Mail to:
The Director
American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI)
767 Third Avenue, Suite 301
New York, NY 10017

N.B. AFUWI is a 501(c) 3 registered charity organization in the USA. All donations will be acknowledged in writing and will be eligible for IRS Tax deduction to the full extent of US state and federal laws.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has assured the regional University’s continued commitment and readiness to provide technical capacity and general support as required.

Since December 2020 when activity on the volcano was first detected, scientists from The UWI’s Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) have been deployed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Teams on rotation are conducting ongoing monitoring and their updates have been critical to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ planning, activation of alert levels, evacuation and other decision-making in the emergency management process.