Give Back Programme

About

In 2018, the Barbados Government reintroduced the payment of tuition fees for Barbadian students.  In return, it mandated that all Barbadian students ‘give back’ in the form of volunteer hours at various approved participating entities across the island.
 
Students have the opportunity to OPT OUT of this programme by contacting the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training and arranging for the payment of their fees.  This should be done before the start of the semester.
 

Requirements

Students are required to complete volunteer hours for each academic year as follows:
  • Full-time - 150 hours
  • Part-time - 100 hours
The academic year begins on the 1st August and finishes on the 31st July of the following year.
For more information, visit: Give Back Barbados

Enrollment in the Programme

To participate in this programme students must follow the steps below.
 
1. Create an account on the Ministry’s App.
  • Go to https://www.gov.bb/giveback
  • Click on Create an account
  • Complete the sign up page
  • Accept terms of service and Privacy Policy to OPT IN
  • Click submit
  • CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR ACTIVATION (your account is only created after activation)
 
2. Check for volunteer opportunities
  • Peruse the Give Back website for entities offering opportunities
  • Choose the entity/entities you want to participate with
  • Contact the Entity to arrange your volunteering schedule
  • Create a file and keep a record of all entities contacted and responses received

3. Log your completed volunteer hours
  • Go to https://www.gov.bb/giveback
  • Log In
  • Enter the date and the number of volunteered hours (please note minutes must be entered for the time to be recorded correctly; you can enter 00 in the minutes’ section)
  • From the drop-down menu, select the entity you volunteered with (note although you are a University of the West Indies student you are only to select this as an entity if you volunteered with or through us).

Exemptions

Students enrolled in the below Majors are exempted from participating in the Give Back Programme due to the built-in hours requirement of the programmes.
 
  • Medicine (MBBS) students
  • Pharmacy students
  • Social Work students
  • Nursing students
  • Students of Occupational Therapy
  • Students of the Medical Laboratory Technician programme.
Scholarship winners and Exhibition winners are also exempted.
 

Volunteer Opportunities at the UWI Cave Hill Campus

The Cave Hill Campus is an approved entity with the Give Back Programme. The Office of Student Services will publish available opportunities on our various social media platforms from time to time.  You are advised to check your Cave Hill email and the Campus App regularly.
At the end of the volunteer period, you will be required to have the respective department verify the hours you served with them by completing a Service Hours Verification form.  This form can be located here Service Hours Volunteer Form.
Volunteer hours can also be gained by APPROVED participation in our Vision and Fortitude program; Peer Mentorship program; FYE program and Clubs and Societies programmes.
 

Helpful Links

 
Regional and International Students:
To all of our Regional and International students and those who are not participating in the Give Back Programme, we would like to encourage you to be a part of our Vision and Fortitude programme.  This program offers a wide range of volunteering prospects and give you a prime opportunity to be socially responsible.
 

List of approved Participating Entities with the Give Back Programme


For a current list of participating entities, visit https://givebackbarbados.com/entities/ 

 


Contact Us

Gloria Harper (Community Services Coordinator)

Email: giveback@cavehill.uwi.edu
Phone: (246) 417-4165 
 
 
 


 

The Office of Student Services and Development
Tel.: (246) 417-4165/6/7 Fax: (246) 424-5348 | Email: studentservices@cavehill.uwi.edu