MAKING AN IMPACT
Changing lives and improving our community one youth at a time...
Robotics: Train the Trainer Program
In January 2026, Project Promise introduced its latest initiative, the WRO: Train the Trainer Program. This program is designed to equip teachers and students with the essential resources and training required to implement the program within their respective schools, as well as prepare participants for mini competitions. The primary objectives are to provide comprehensive training for educators, engage elementary school students, and supply each participating elementary school with a Robotics Kit and Game Table. Participating institutions included Pearl B. Larsen, Juanita Gardine, Lew Muckle, Ricardo Richards, and Eulalie Rivera Elementary Schools.
Summer of Service 2
Project Promise’s Caterpillar students rode the rails across America during the summer of 2025 to make an impact on communities outside of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Caterpillars touched down in Washington, DC with stops in Illinois, Washington, British Columbia, and California.
Eight years ago Resa O’Reilly Shearn, Executive Director and Founder of St. Croix non-profit Project Promise, was watching TV when images of an orphanage in a remote village in Tanzania caught her attention. She immediately knew that she wanted to support this orphanage as part of Project Promise’s international outreach efforts. As a result, the annual “Toys for Tanzania” initiative was born.
We Dit It!
Nine years ago Project Promise President and Founder Resa O’Reilly saw a dilapidated building in downtown Christiansted—a building that had sat empty for 30 years—and had a vision. “One day,” she thought to herself, “this building is going to be a thriving community center and the home for an organization that will truly make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth here in the Virgin Islands.” With this vision in mind Resa launched Project Promise, operating out of borrowed space as she built an organization that now runs three on-going programs for area youth and completes numerous community service projects each year.
When St. Croix non-profit Project Promise launched its flagship Caterpillar Project to provide a full range of programming for a group of at-risk youth, it made community service an integral part of the program. The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped this. In fact, it is the focus of their current efforts! With the goal of creating and implementing a community service project that can potentially impact the entire St. Croix community, the “Caterpillars” have completed Heart to Heart International’s COVID-19 Youth Ambassador program.
Summer of Service
Project Promise’s Caterpillar students drove across America this summer to make an impact on communities outside of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Caterpillars touched down in New York with stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California
Project Promise announced their gifting of close to $10,000 to educate 30 children in South Africa for an entire year.
During this trip, O’Reilly decided to sponsor two children but upon return to St. Croix, she raised the funds to sponsor all the children.
Outreach Projects
PAINTING A MURAL
Our Caterpillars joined Aurys of New Creations Co to paint a mural at Leap & Learn Academy. This activity served as an exercise in both Creative Expression and Community Service.
Pictured: Alejandro Quinones Jr.
HALLOWEEN GOODY BAGS
Our Caterpillars visited the kindergarten students at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School. Our team had a wonderful time handing out goody bags and engaging with the students.
Pictured: Charnaja Williams & Jamoy Rodriguez
JEWELRY MAKING
Our Caterpillars ventured to Crucian Gold and joined the afternoon session of jewelry making. As a result of their hard work, each was rewarded with a small gift.
Pictured: Divine Akuza
CATERPILLARS CLEAN-UP
For our first community service activity of Caterpillar Camp 2025, our Caterpillars cleaned up the block surrounding Project Promise’s principal location.
Pictured: Alejandro Quinones Jr.
READING TO CHILDREN
March 2025, our Caterpillars visited Happy Faces II Academy to read to the children, which was academically enriching & a valuable lesson in the importance of giving back to our community.
Pictured: Charnaja Williams
NATIONAL SCROLLATHON
At CMCArt, our Caterpillars participated in the National Scrollathon! A campus-wide exhibition at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2026.
Pictured: Malique Morton, Alejandro Quinones Jr., Charnaja Williams, Jamoy Rodriguez
LOTUS FARM
Our group joined local farmer Evworth Charles for an educational afternoon focused on learning about the agriculture process, planted trees, and sampled various fruits grown on the farm.
Pictured: Malique Morton, Evworth Charles and Alejandro Quinones Jr.
CLIMATE ACTION WEEK
For Climate Action Week, our Caterpillars volunteered with the National Park Service to plant 60-100 mangroves at different sites around Salt River Bay National Historical Park & Ecological Preserve.
Pictured: Jamoy Rodriguez
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
For their February 2024 Community Service Project our community minded Caterpillars cleaned up the block surrounding Project Promise’s principal location.
Pictured: Alejandro Quinones and Jaheim Creque (on the right)
SOLAR LIGHTS
After learning that kids in Mon Bijou were playing basketball at night using car headlights, our Caterpillars raised funds to help. WE donated solar lights & basketballs to the community court.
Pictured: Elroy Bascombe, Alejandro Quinones & Jamoy Rodriguez.
TOYS FOR TANZANIA
In keeping with the Caterpillar program’s December theme of “world perspective,” the students were excited to participate in Project Promise’s annual “Toys for Tanzania” Initiative.
