Students from C.V. Bethel Senior High School view RBC’S ‘Outstanding Women of The Bahamas’ Exhibition.

Bank commemorates the opportunity to recognise and promote the advancements women have made in the workplace and community with young girls from local high schools.

Nassau, Bahamas – RBC Royal Bank celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of events including a donation to The Women’s Crisis Centre, RBC staff wearing the colours white, green and purple in support of IWD and a feature exhibition at Royal Bank; Main Branch (Bay St.) titled ‘Outstanding Women of The Bahamas’.

The exhibition features 40 women who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of The Bahamas over the last 40 years. The remarkable women included in the exhibition come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines including sports, finance, politics, education and agriculture. The central point of the exhibition features five of the key figures of the Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas: Mary Ingraham, Mabel Walker, Eugenia Lockhart, Georgiana Symonette and Dame Dr. Doris Johnson.

 

Students of C.V. Bethel and C.R. Walker Senior High Schools receive roses from RBC during a visit and luncheon with female executives of the Bank during International Women’s Day.

During the launch of the exhibition on March 7, 2013, RBC hosted a Mentoring event for 40 girls from C.R. Walker and C.V. Bethel Senior High Schools. The girls were given a tour of the exhibition, after which they were transported to the RBC Royal Bank House where they dialogued with executive women of RBC and were hosted to lunch. Several RBC female managers spoke to the girls about motivators and drivers in achieving personal and professional goals. The keynote speaker, Ms. Tanya McCartney, Managing Director, RBC Finco, shared her own personal and professional learning journey with the girls. She encouraged them to work hard and focus on their education, she challenged them: - “the value of hard work and education cannot be underestimated. Believe in yourself, it is up to you to continue to march forward and achieve your goals.”

“RBC felt it was important to include the younger generation in our International Women’s Day celebrations”, explained Jan Knowles, RBC Manager, Public Relations and Communications. She continued: - “Young girls must learn about these outstanding women and their impact on every sphere of the Bahamian community. Through this process the next generation of women will be inspired to achieve greatness and contribute to the positive development of our country.”

At the culmination of the event each girl was presented with a rose. Bradeisha Babbs, a 10^th grade student at C.V. Bethel High School said that she enjoyed the day and was grateful to RBC for having her. She exclaimed: - “seeing all the Bahamian women who made it gives us hope that we can do something big”.

International Women’s Day (IWD), is an important celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women worldwide. IWD has been observed since the early 1900s and in 1977, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 8 as International Women’s Day. ‘ A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women’ is the official UN theme for International Women's Day 2013.