The Tribune

By FELICITY DARVILLE

WHEN Keyron Smith was a little boy growing up in Eleuthera, he was fascinated by the planes that would fly above his home across the street from the North Eleuthera Airport. He would run outside to his front porch with his orange balloons to play like he was directing the planes as they parked. He would see them lift into the air and soar above him, headed to worlds far away from his quaint village. Watching them soar, Keyron’s dreams lifted as high as the clouds. He knew that when he grew up, he could go anywhere he wanted, and be anything he wanted, as long as he “dared to dream and put in the work”.

Well, the little island boy’s dreams did indeed take flight. He has travelled the world and has made significant contributions wherever he went. He became a specialist in governance and public policy, and has earned enough educational and professional accolades to be an asset all over the globe. Yet, Keyron has decided to plant his feet right back where his navel string is buried. He is helping fellow Eleutherans and Bahamians all over the country elevate their personal and professional skills, and he is helping to grow an organisation that is empowering local island communities, transforming them into thriving self-sufficient ecosystems. As the One Eleuthera Foundation celebrates its tenth anniversary, Keyron is also celebrating his promotion from Chief Project Officer to Acting Chief Operating Officer, daring to dream bigger and bigger each step of the way.

Eleuthera, known as the isle of freedom, was just that for the young Keyron: “I fondly remember growing up in Eleuthera and enjoying the feeling of tranquility and peace... enjoying the liberty to roam the settlement freely with my friends and spend countless hours outdoors. We would explore the terrain, ride bicycles, go line fishing, and visit breathtaking beaches for mid-day dips. There was always a sense of safety and freedom as we spent long afternoons playing with neighbours and cousins after Mr Dudley dropped us home from school in the big yellow school bus. You could be guaranteed to always be under the watchful eyes of the matriarchs and patriarchs of our community. These ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’ kept a lookout, ensuring that the neighbourhood children were respectful and responsible, stayed in line and didn’t find themselves in unnecessary mischief.”

To this day, he says the communities of Eleuthera are still very tightly knit and “you can feel that genuine spirit of support and connectedness”. Keyron grew up in a single-parent home with his mother Anastasia McMillan and later in his late teenage years, he grew up under the watchful guidance of his uncle, Sidney Cambridge, Sr. Through most of his childhood, he spent time with his mother’s side of the family in Lower Bogue, including his aunt Cherene Greene in Bluff.

During his early years of schooling, Keyron attended North Eleuthera Primary (now known as Laura Anderson Primary School), and Sadie Curtis Primary School in New Providence. He returned to Eleuthera and attended North Eleuthera High School, before moving back to New Providence, where he attended HO Nash High School. He spent his last three years of high school at Queen’s College, where he graduated as a proud Comet.

Keyron flourished when he continued on to tertiary education. He attended the College of the Bahamas, now the University of the Bahamas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He became the recipient of the UB Alumni Association Leadership Award, as well as the School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences (SCELS) Overall Award.

His leadership ability, mixed with finesse and that island boy humility, did not go unnoticed. He made strides that gained national recognition and as a result, he earned the 2015 Prime Minister’s Cup as well as the 2015 National Leadership Youth Award.

With all that wind beneath his wings, Keyron went on to earn a Master of Arts degree with distinction in the United Kingdom at the University of Manchester (UoM) in Political Science, specializing in Governance and Public Policy (Research). His research dissertation, “An Examination of the Local Government System on the Outer Islands of The Bahamas: A Call for Further Decentralisation of Power,” highlights his keen interest in creating and promoting progressive, sustainable development and community empowerment throughout the Family Islands.

Keyron has the perfect opportunity to utilize his skills on his beloved homeland. He is the Chief Operating Officer (Acting) for the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI). He is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations and programmes of the foundation. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Chief Project Officer for OEF steering the organization’s strategic plan and multi-faceted projects and programmes.

“For me, the decision to move and work here became obvious when the opportunity was offered for me to work with One Eleuthera Foundation and contribute to the development of the island and its communities,” Keyron told me.

“I recognized that my education, experiences (personal and professional), passion for community building and love for this island were fully aligned and connected. I started off as the Projects and Strategic Planning Manager, and over time as my understanding of the organization and responsibilities grew, it was a natural progression into the position of Chief Project Officer. Most recently, I’ve stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer (Acting). As a young professional, I am embracing this new opportunity with enthusiasm, and hard work but also a deep sense of responsibility and humility.”

On April 22, Earth Day, the One Eleuthera Foundation celebrated its tenth anniversary. OEF is a nonprofit community development organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 2012. CTI was founded in 2016 and facilitates OEF’s educational and vocational training programmes via a 23-acre training farm, and The Retreat, a 16-room training hotel and restaurant. Led by a dedicated team of over forty employees, and a Board of Directors, they work together to address complex community issues and create sustainable development around five key areas of focus: economy, education, health, heritage, and the environment.

“There is so much to be proud of especially as we are about to celebrate OEF’s ten-year anniversary and over a decade of strengthening, planning and connecting our communities,” he said.

“We have grown to be one of the largest nonprofits in the country and one of the main employers in South Eleuthera, offering long-term job opportunities for CTI graduates and locals. Witnessing first-hand the social impact and people who benefit directly from our programmes and projects is one aspect of the work that makes me proud. This includes seeing the 90% graduation rate and pathway to success created for students completing technical and vocational training programmes at our Harbour Island Trade School (CTI-HITS) and our flagship ‘Learn and Earn’ programme, which provides students with a weekly stipend as they learn an in-demand trade at our Rock Sound campus. Through our CTI programmes, students across Eleuthera are increasing their financial independence, employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.”

“I’m also proud to see our organization launch our revolutionary 1.1-acre Cooling House. This style of grow house is the first of its kind in The Bahamas and will improve our island’s food security while pioneering new farming technology and increasing community access to healthy food. The structure features an automated roof and walls that help regulate internal temperatures and protect crops from extreme heat, wind, and rain. This modern facility will allow us to introduce year-round growing of nutritious, leafy green vegetables and produce. Additionally, it will allow us to learn and teach new farming techniques and agricultural courses for youth and local farmers.”

“We continue to provide essential financial and technical support to our partner organizations, increasing their capacity to better serve our communities. This includes the donation of fire and emergency response vehicles and life-saving equipment to South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP). I’m proud to see how these donations have been put to good use in saving lives, protecting property, and servicing some of the most critical needs of our community. Last, but by no means least, I’m also proud of the work we have done over the past two years to assist Hurricane Dorian evacuees in rebuilding their lives. We continue to provide ongoing support and relief, inclusive of accommodations assistance, food, counseling, relocation support, and employment within our organization.”

Keyron explains how the move back to Eleuthera began: “It started during one of my vacations to Eleuthera a few years ago. I was invited to visit the Rock Sound campus by Shaun Ingraham, President and CEO of One Eleuthera Foundation. My visit took place on the heels of an OEF board meeting, and I was able to also speak with the board chairman at that time, Mr Alfred Sears, who had travelled to Eleuthera for the meeting. Shaun gave me a tour of the campus and told me that he wanted young people to be a part of this visionary journey of developing the organization and furthering its work in Eleuthera and beyond.”

“I remember talking about ideas and plans with him for about six hours that day.

“Even now, I can’t believe that we spoke for that long. The vision and plans he had for the organization really sparked my interest and I felt a need to become a part of it.

“After I returned to Nassau, I gave it some deep thought and the decision became clear. I realize now that it wasn’t a coincidence.

“I saw where the organization aligned with some of my experiences and interests, especially in grant writing and national development. OEF had encompassed the ethos of my passions and I knew it was something I could not miss out on.

“From love for community, development work, promotion of sustainable development and placing the focus on people beyond just profits, it all made me want to invest my time into OEF.

“That’s when I knew it was time to move back to the island and be a part of something truly special. I did not know what I was stepping into but I felt a sense of purpose. God and my gut told me to take a leap of faith.”

Moving back to Eleuthera as an adult has refreshed Keyron’s mind and increased his awareness of the ‘true, untouched beauty and raw potential of the island’.

He advises young people to consider the Family Islands as they are ripe with opportunity and offer more affordable routes to home ownership.

Prior to his engagement at OEF and CTI, Keyron served at the University of The Bahamas as the Assistant Director of Grants and Policy Fellow in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) and in the Government and Public Policy Institute. As Assistant Director of Grants, he developed and assessed university grant proposals and was key in implementing successful fundraising and donor management strategies.

As a Policy Fellow, he developed and secured government proposals, engaged in research and analysis, and raised public awareness of national issues for the institute.

As a member of the College Council and Transition Board of Trustees, Keyron played an instrumental role in the transition of the institute from College to University of The Bahamas.

His other contributions have included serving on the National Development Plan (NDP) Steering Committee and working on the university’s consultancy team to draft some of The Bahamas’ first country progress reports on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.