In 2023, the Ministry of Barbados and XQ established a partnership to drive a transformative agenda, placing schools at the heart of the nation’s economic and workforce strategy. This partnership, crucial for long-term sustainability, not only advances XQs collective’s climate-focused goals but also aims to transform learning experiences for young people, integrating innovative learning methods with sustainable, climate-resilient designs. Our focus is empowering teachers, building new schools, and supporting equitable policies that put young people at the center.

The notion of building a new school led Barbados and XQ to big questions. How does design meet pedagogy? How does physical space enable and impact XQ learning? How do we build anew with carbon reduction, climate resiliency, and preparedness as central strategies?  The outcome is a hexagonal design emphasizing inquiry, reflection, and public presentations, featuring modular, eco-friendly materials powered by renewable energy sources. These schools will also incorporate rainwater harvesting and biodiversity promotion, serving as community hubs resilient to climate events.

“This is not a Ministry of Education project, this is not a whole of government project, this is a whole nation project,” said Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. “If we’re going to see crime go down in this country, if we’re going to see poverty go down in this country, if we’re going to see youngsters have opportunities in this country to be whatever you want and to be able to go wherever you want on this earth and still give back to your country, then we need a whole of country, a whole of nation approach.”