The Nevis Historical & Conservation Society (NHCS) has secured US$52,000 in international funding to digitize and preserve the island’s archival heritage, advancing efforts to protect Nevis’ historical records from environmental threats.

Funded by the Government and People of Japan through UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, the initiative will be implemented with support from the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean and the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO. The project targets vulnerable materials at the Nevis Island Archives, including documents and photographs at risk from climate change, humidity, and natural disasters.

Key activities include digitizing priority records, creating detailed metadata, strengthening digital storage systems, and training local staff in preservation techniques. The project will also collaborate with Nevisian Visual Artist, Stacey Tyrell to build local capacity.  Implementation is expected to begin in the coming months.

The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme preserves global documentary heritage, especially materials at risk from conflict or natural disasters. It promotes wider access to archives and increases public awareness of their importance in safeguarding history, culture, and collective memory.