From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Community
Unlikely discovery leads to meeting young girls' needs
By Serena Williams
Mar 12, 2018 - 12:11:14 PM

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L to R: Phillipa Dean, founder of “The Dignified Girl Project,” and Keturah Thompson, CIBC FirstCaribbean Sales Specialist at the Mall at Marathon branch. Photo credit: Derek Smith

A mother’s struggle to provide new undergarments for her daughter, and the discovery that this need affects many, inspired Bahamas Crisis Centre volunteer Phillipa Dean to start The Dignified Girl Project - an organisation that provides young girls ages six to 17 with new undergarments, “free of charge and without discrimination.” As the program prepared for their next distribution cycle, they got a financial boost from CIBC FirstCaribbean. “The original idea was simply to provide new panties and bras every three months,” said Dean. “However, we discovered that these young women also need personal hygiene products like deodorant, sanitary napkins, toothpaste and toothbrushes. I thought it was an excellent idea to have a complete package, and because of CIBC FirstCaribbean we’ve been able to create these personal care packages that include undergarments as well as hygiene products.” CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director Marie Rodland-Allen said: “This project resonates with us. We know that personal hygiene and clean clothes help to boost self-esteem.” The Dignified Girl Project acts as a resource provider and allocates the personal care packages to official distribution centres. Their long-term goal, said Dean, is to reach at least three family islands.



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