St. John, USVI – September 18, 2026 – As the US Virgin Islands experiences drought across the territory, the effects of El Niño and wildfires, and witnesses devastating natural disasters around the world, such as the recent floods in Nepal, the far-reaching impacts of climate change can be seen firsthand. As a result, the importance of greening education has come to the forefront of climate advocates and governments globally.

Developed in collaboration with UNESCO, Planet Green Force (PGF) engages and empowers PreK-12 youth by educating, inspiring passion, and building the awareness and capacity needed to drive meaningful change in food and nutrition security, climate action, clean water/oceans and green initiatives. It is a project initiated by nonprofit Island Green Living. It empowers young people to become advocates, innovators, and leaders in building a more sustainable world. PGF is an “accreditation scheme organizer” for UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership and supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNESCO Climate Science Literacy, and related environmental education frameworks.

“Food security, energy security, plastic pollution, coral bleaching, and other environmental challenges are not distant or abstract issues, they are real-life challenges that we, as island communities, experience firsthand,” said Island Green Volunteer President Harith Wickrema, who officially founded nonprofit Planet Green Force in 2024. “Greening education should be a priority for the legislators and administrators. Island Green will stand by the commitment to provide advice and insight on navigation to prioritize greening education territory-wide. The 14,000 school children in our territory will in turn motivate and educate their families and the community. In this way, we can help shape a more resilient future for our territory and beyond.”

With this in mind, Island Green and PGF have named Gifft Hill School, a toddler through 12th grade school in St John, the first PGF partner school, with an official ceremony on Thursday, September 17 at Gifft Hill School. Gifft Hill will serve as a model for others, and the expectation is that additional schools will be brought on in the future.

Gifft Hill School has for years collaborated with Island Green Living on school gardening, aquaponics, hydroponics, recycling, etc. and strongly supports environmental learning. As a PGF partner school, Gifft Hill School will further embrace the UN SDGs, Green Word of the Week, greening education, related research, writings, field trips, collaboration with other schools, activities in coordination with Island Green and more.

“Gifft Hill School’s dedication to sustainability and its distinctive EARTH program make it a particularly good fit and we are gratified to have Gifft Hill as our first PGF school in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” added Wickrema.

“We are excited to become a Planet Green Force partner school because the organization’s vision so closely reflects the work Gifft Hill School has been doing for years,” said GHS Head of School Liz Kinsella. “Our commitment to sustainability is central to who we are as a school. This partnership will help us build upon that strong foundation while connecting our students to a broader global movement and to educational frameworks developed in collaboration with UNESCO.”

A ceremony, including a check presentation, marks the official partnership. The check was presented by Island Green Living and Planet Green Force representatives to Gifft Hill School in support of strengthening its role as a PGF model for schools seeking to integrate environmental education into their own curricula. The organizations have supported GHS’s EARTH and horticultural program over the years and this contribution represents the most significant support to date.

Established in 2004, Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI. www.islandgreenliving.org

Planet Green Force, in collaboration with UNESCO, is a worldwide league for youth Prek-12 that educates, ignites passion, builds awareness in order to mount meaningful change in eradicating hunger (food and nutrition security), battling climate change, ensuring clean water/oceans and embracing green initiatives. It is a registered 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. www.planetgreenforce.org