More than 30 years ago, UWI St Augustine held the first of what would become the blueprint for Carnival all-inclusive fetes. UWI Fete was a game changing initiative and a highly effective fundraiser that over the years has raised more than $20 million to provide financial support for students. Now, The UWI’s Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF) has created a new event with an even bigger role - The UWI Garden Party.

In July 2022, the first Garden Party, Fête Champetre, was held. As the first UWI-branded fete since the end of the pandemic, it was a great success.

“The people loved it,” says DSSD Director and one of the party’s main organisers, Dr Deirdre Charles. “It was staged at a time when people had done nothing for the year. People were looking for a place to go and exhale.”

There were similarities between The UWI’s Carnival event and this one, but there are important differences as well. The Garden Party’s performances are not limited to soca artists, and jazz and other genres are represented by some of their greatest exponents in T&T. The Garden Party is also smaller, and more intimate, and the themes are international. The first event had a French theme. This year’s event, scheduled for July 7, is Italian - La Festa in Giardino.

Italian food, wine, impeccable decor, performers at the highest level, the organisers have promised an even bigger (but still intimate) and more enjoyable experience. But in the one thing that matters most, The Garden Party and UWI Fete are the same. All proceeds from the event go towards providing scholarships and bursaries for students to attend The UWI.

“It’s a win all around,” says Dr Charles. “Attendees have a good time, hear good music, have good food, and engage with people. But they also know the money they paid for a ticket will go to a student in a few months.”

The organisers have an ambitious goal for La Festa in Giardino, they want to double the amount earned.

“We recognise that since we started giving those bursaries many years ago, inflation has kicked in,” says Dr Charles.

As Director of the DSSD, she is intimately aware of the needs students have for financial support. She has personally assisted several students and the division’s Financial Advisory Services department has been responsible for directing financial aid to thousands.

She recalls one family of four, three sisters and the youngest a brother, all hardworking students with ability, but without the means to attend university. So far, the financial support provided by The UWI has allowed all three sisters to pursue their degrees at UWI St Augustine.

“I’m waiting on the brother,” she says, smiling.

In August 2023, UWIDEF announced that they have transitioned away from UWI Fete and will now make the Garden Party, along with The UWIDEF IGNITE concert (covered in this issue of UWI TODAY), and The UWIDEF Charity Golf Challenge, its three fundraising mechanisms.

Dr Charles encourages both the private and public sector to take part in these events:

“I say to our partners in industry, come join us at this event in an effort to ensure increased retention rates. This will have a positive impact on the labour force both locally and regionally. This is a regional workforce building initiative. These scholarships and bursaries are for national, regional, and postgraduate students.”

The UWI Garden Party - La Festa in Giardino, is scheduled for July 7 on the grounds of The UWI St Augustine campus. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/UWIFete/ or www.instagram.com/uwifetesta.