Tatianna has finally arrived in Montego Bay Jamaica y’all!!! Today I met up with my dear friend and ambassador of Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) Villages as Businesses (VAB) Diana Mc Intyre-Pike to have a bite at the famous Pelican Inn on Bottom Road which serves a variety of local dishes to both Jamaicans and tourists. The CCTN was established in the 90’s because of a love for local communities and a deep desire to create avenues for them to create sustainable livelihoods through basic hospitality skills, community tourism entrepreneurship hospitality training, environmental awareness, and demonstrating how to manage their communities with the establishment of Steering Committees.
Diana received a copy of Tatianna’s Ocean Adventures – Onto the Reef as a love offering for all that this network has done and continues to do within the region. Diana has spearheaded several projects within the communities of Jamaica and the Caribbean region. One of the organization’s latest projects include Community Tourism Entrepreneurship training from the Academy for Community Tourism (ACT) in partnership with the UWI Open Campus sponsored by the US Embassy for 130 persons from several communities. As a strong proponent of sustainability and saving the environment, Diana’s organizations support strengthening communities and empowering locals to take charge of their environment while ensuring financial and social sustainability.
“It was indeed a pleasure to be in the presence of this trailblazer and we are looking forward to planning book readings within the communities in the near future. This book can be included in the entrepreneurship training to make communities more aware of the environment with the ocean.” Mc Intyre-Pike commented.
I had the privilege of conducting virtual book readings in the month of October in commemoration of World Reptile Day with a little over fifty eager grade three students of the Wynnebrook Elementary School located in West Palm Beach, one of the top title schools in Palm Beach Florida with a high minority population.
The students watched a short video on the characteristics of reptiles and then delved right into Tatianna’ first adventure where she and her brothers and sisters are born on the island of Tobago Cays in the Caribbean. Their mom returns to the deep blue ocean and they begin exploring their very first coral reef home. Although Tatianna and her siblings are separated from their mother, the students are also encouraged to have hope of reconnection to family members and loved ones and to be courageous in all of life’s endeavours. The students also discussed ways to protect sea turtles with waste management and elimination of single use plastics as one of the main actions to be taken. Young also donated a Tatianna inspired Reptile Awareness Day colouring page to the grade three students in commemoration of this special event.
For more information on how you can support Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) Villages as Businesses – please visit www.visitcommunities.com/jamaica email: countrystyletourism@yahoo.com tel: 876-507-6326
Tatianna’s Ocean Adventures: Onto the Reef is about a lovable and curious hawksbill sea turtle who explores our beautiful oceans. The book teaches children about the marine environment, the life cycle of hawksbill sea turtles as well as character building such as faith, hope and courage.
If you are interested in purchasing a few copies, Tatianna can be found at these major retailers!
Read more about Tatianna on the official webpage here!
