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.
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.
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.
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
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 recently visited the kindergarten students at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School. Our team had a wonderful time handing out goody bags and engaging with the students. This visit was a fantastic opportunity for our group to participate in a fun and service-oriented exercise within our community.
Picture: Charnaja Williams and Jamoy Rodriguez
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. Our community-minded Caterpillars truly enjoy contributing to the beautification of our island.
Pictured: Alejandro Quinones Jr.
During March of 2025, our Caterpillars visited Happy Faces II Academy to read to the children. This experience was both academically enriching for the students and a valuable lesson in the importance of giving back to our community.
Pictured: Charnaja Williams
National Scrollathon
Our Caterpillars recently joined 100 other community members at CMCArt to participate in the National Scrollathon! The National Scrollathon will culminate in a campus-wide exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2026. This event will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America.
Pictured: Malique Morton, Alejandro Quinones Jr., Charnaja Williams, Jamoy Rodriguez
Our group joined local farmer Evworth Charles for an educational afternoon focused on living off the land. During the visit, the Caterpillars learned 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
This Climate Action Week, our Caterpillars joined others from all around the nation by taking action! They volunteered with the National Park Service to plant 60-100 mangroves at different sites around Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.
Pictured: Jamoy Rodriguez
As our caterpillars continued to settle into their new Community Center, they wanted to ensure that the outside was just as lovely as the inside. For their February 2024 Community Service Project our community minded Caterpillars cleaned up the block surrounding Project Promise’s principal location.
Pictured: Alejandro Quinones (on the left) and Jaheim Creque (on the right) plant Hibiscus trees around the Speed Limit sign.
Solar Lights
After learning that some kids in Mon Bijou are playing basketball at night on a court lit by car headlights (the existing lights aren't working), our Caterpillars got to work raising money to purchase solar lights for their court! On Saturday August 13th, not only did we donate solar lights, we were also able to purchase and donate basketballs as well.
Pictured: Elroy Bascombe, a Mon Bijou resident receives our donation from two of our Caterpillars- Alejandro Quinones (on the left) and Jamoy Rodriguez (on the right).
When St. Croix non-profit Project Promise launched its flagship Caterpillars 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. This month was no exception. In keeping with the program’s December theme of “world perspective,” the students were excited to participate in Project Promise’s annual “Toys for Tanzania” Initiative.
