|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
President of The Nassau, Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Jeunesse Osadebay-Bullard, addresses the crowd at Sandals Royal Bahamian yesterday.
|
Both Organizations To Support The P.A.C.E. Program Within The Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas - The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, and The Nassau, Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the local chapter of an organization that is 350,000 women strong worldwide, today announced to the Bahamas their partnership in support of the P.A.C.E. Program, (Providing Access to Continued Education) a community-based outreach initiative designed to provide education and support to teenage mothers and promote awareness to help reduce teen pregnancy among young adults.
The initiative was originally announced early this month at Delta Sigma Theta’s Southern Regional Conference in Tampa, FL. Today’s launch afforded potential Bahamian partners the opportunity to understand the work the women of Delta Sigma Theta, mainly The Nassau, Bahamas Alumnae chapter and the Sandals Foundation will being undertaking. Those potential partners were invited to join with these two entities to reinforce the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Sandals Foundation in The Bahamas, in support of P.A.C.E over the next three years. Together, both organisations hope to continue to raise needed funds for P.A.C.E. and for the refurbishment of a first-of-its-kind support center that will ensure young mothers are provided with a resource that accommodates administrative, health care, nursery and academic services.
Potential partners in attendance included Colombian Emeralds International, CIBC First Caribbean, JetBlue and Royal Bank of Canada.
Heidi Clarke (L), Executive Director for the Sandals Foundation and Sonia Brown, President of the P.A.C.E. Foundation field question on the ongoing relationship between both organisations at Sandals Royal Bahamian yesterday.
|
Approximately 700 teenage girls are impregnated each year in The Bahamas, with about 20% of them eventually becoming pregnant again while still in their teen years. Designed specifically as a Bahamian program but with reach in other Caribbean Islands, P.A.C.E. provides education and support to teenage mothers, promoting awareness of policies to help reduce teen pregnancy among young adults. Through the program, young women in need receive:
· Personal care items, clothing and food for their children, themselves, and sometimes their family.
· Weekly mentorship on a broad range of topics including pregnancy prevention, legal rights, budgeting, and motivational techniques.
· Weekly spiritual enrichment sessions.
· Access to information technology and skills training to assist mothers with the tools needed to rejoin the workforce.
· Ongoing support once they’ve left the program.
The Sandals Foundation’s President and CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, founded the Sandals Foundation to help fulfill the promise of the Caribbean community, with the knowledge that education provides the greatest opportunities for positive change in individuals and nations.
Supporting and sharing the visionary’s philosophy for education and community outreach, President of The Nassau, Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Jeunesse Osadebay-Bullard, seeks to rally her organization to highlight the alarming pregnancy rate in her country and to support efforts of the P.A.C.E. Program. “The opportunity afforded to us to partner with the Sandals Foundation is one that allows us to continue our efforts as an organization to promote our Sorority’s “5 point programmatic thrust” of educational development, economic development, political awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and international awareness & involvement, said Mrs. Osadebay-Bullard. “We continue to establish ourselves as a public service organization that addresses the needs and issues in our community. Working with the Sandals Foundation has been an amazing experience. The idea that we are able to create synergies that affect so many young ladies in a positive way is what encourages us and will for years to come. As Mark Twain once said, “Synergy is the bonus that is achieved when things work together harmoniously” and this simply describes it all.“
Successful completion of the P.A.C.E. Program is the only means by which teenage mothers are allowed re-entry into the public schools thus giving them an opportunity to complete their education. In turn, these teenage mothers are better prepared and equipped for gainful employment, which reduces the chances that they will live a life of poverty and social dependence.
“We are thrilled to be working alongside the Bahamian Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta to join in our efforts to support P.A.C.E. and raise needed funds for their programs. With their wide network of alumni and supporters across not only the Caribbean but also the world, we are very hopeful that we can continue to “set the pace” for young women providing needed education, mentoring and support, said Adam Stewart. “Together, we can make a remarkable impact on the lives of many young girls and change the outcome for generations to follow.”
By undertaking the “Setting The P.A.C.E.” partnership, both The Sandals Foundation and The Nassau, Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hope to significantly raise needed funds to support local efforts critical for community development while improving the self-esteem of these young women so that they can go on to achieve goals with a positive perspective and approach.
For more information on this partnership or to donate, please visit www.sandalsfoundation.org. To learn more about Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated, please visit deltasigmatheta.org
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
