There is a quiet reality many students carry into the classroom each morning… the weight of starting the day on empty.
For the Bishop’s High School, Tobago (BHS) Class of 1979, that reality was not something to overlook; it became a powerful call to act. Out of that conviction, Project Sunshine 2029 was born, a long-term nutritional initiative led by project coordinators Alison Grant-Legall and Cheryl Cleghorn, it is designed to support the school’s newest students from their very first day through to graduation. As Cheryl Cleghorn, explains, “We started off with them in first form, now they are in second form, and we are committed to the initiative of feeding the future until they graduate in 2029”.
At its core, Project Sunshine is built on a simple yet profound mission: to ensure that no student’s education is hindered by hunger. While the project began by supporting eight students, it has already expanded to 10 recipients based on evolving needs assessments conducted by form teachers. The alumni choose to maintain a respectful distance to preserve the students’ dignity. “We have no idea who the students are and neither do we want to know,” says Cheryl. “We’ve left it completely to the form teachers to identify the recipients based on a needs assessment”.
Fueling the Future
The program offers a diverse and rotating menu prepared by Shajo’s in Harmony Hall, an “extremely reliable caterer in Harmony Hall who delivers the meals daily. The goal is to provide a nutritious breakfast that students enjoy.
We provide a wide array of breakfast items like nutritious sandwiches, tuna, cheese paste, Vienna sausages, chicken breasts, scrambled eggs, PB&J, burgers, homemade pizza, fried pies, fruits, yogurt, bake and saltfish, cereal, hot dogs.
The Class of 1979 understands that true nourishment is not only physical. Each week, students are met with powerful motivational quotes. According to Cheryl, “the students really like the quotes… it’s to encourage them to keep pressing forward with their schoolwork”.
The success of Project Sunshine 2029 relies on a seamless partnership. A key figure in this ecosystem is Ms. Joseph-Clarke, who Cheryl describes as “the gatekeeper at the school ensuring that the meals get to the correct recipients”.
In the spirit of community, the project remains flexible. While the core group is the focus, the hot beverage station is not “under lock and key”. This allows for the “odd occasion when other students might need a hot beverage… they are not denied”.
As these students move toward 2029, the commitment of the Class of 1979 remains unchanged. This impact is only possible through collective action. As Cheryl notes, “Special thanks to all the members of the Class of 1979 who have contributed and continue to contribute to this initiative…. because without them, this would not be possible.”
Project Sunshine is, ultimately, a reflection of what alumni impact can look like when it moves beyond nostalgia and into action. It is a reminder that legacy is not only about what a school has been, but what it continues to build. And in this case, it is being built one breakfast at a time.
For those interested in contributing to initiatives like Project Sunshine, engagement can begin through the Bishop’s High School administration or respective alumni networks.
