WLI honours foundations at 15th anniversary awards
The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) honoured 13 corporate and family foundations at their 15th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Champagne Reception at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on March 7. The event, held on the eve of International Women’s Day 2019 under the theme ‘Solid Foundations – She Inspires Us’, “honoured do-gooders, nation builders, community champions working tirelessly to improve the lot of Jamaicans, and we are grateful to be part of the community positively impacting Jamaicans across the island,” Chorvelle Johnson, chair of the WLI, said.
The event was sponsored by the JMMB Group, NCB Foundation, PanJam Investment Limited, Sagicor Foundation, GraceKennedy Limited, Phase Three Production and The Jamaica Pegasus.
In a novel approach, the WLI, while honouring the foundations, invited them to share a story of one of their inspiring beneficiaries.
The C.B. Facey Foundation introduced Dr Christine Stennett, who runs the Boys’ Town Family Centre, a public-private partnership in Rema, Trench Town.
Built to accommodate approximately 600 students, the Boys’ Town Infant and Primary School has been experiencing a number of challenges which impact its achievement of required national standards.
The Boys’ Town Infant and Primary School, which has served as a pilot location for the Boys’ Town Family Care Centre, is producing outstanding results, including in reduced social and academic challenges among students, and more aware and prepared parents.
Digicel Foundation introduced the Dallas Nature Producers, which has received support via Digicel Foundation’s Queen’s Young Leaders Programme. Under this initiative, the social enterprise of the young women’s group received a boost to offer training and purchase needed equipment for juice manufacturing, agro-processing and farming. The group in east rural St Andrew and continues to impact the Dallas Castle, Hall’s Delite, Constitution Hill and Cane River area by way of providing employment, training and needed social interventions.
GraceKennedy Foundation shared the story of Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden, a recipient of a GraceKennedy scholarship in 1984.
Dr Knight-Madden holds the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree with honours in community health from The University of the West Indies, Mona; the Master of Science in Biometry from Duke University Medical College and the Doctor of Philosophy Degree from King’s College; University of London. She is board-certified in paediatrics and paediatric pulmonology by the American Board of Pediatrics, and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
A former director of the Sickle Cell Unit at the UWI, KnightMadden has developed a strong clinical and research specialty in sickle cell disease and particularly the effects of the disease on the lung. She is recognised internationally as a sickle cell disease expert, particularly regarding the pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease, including acute chest syndrome and wheezing/asthma.
The FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation presented Shirley Lee Pryce, recipient of their Unsung Heroes Award 2007. Founder and president of the Jamaica Household Workers Union, Pryce has been lauded and celebrated for her sustained advocacy in promoting the rights and causes of domestic workers in Jamaica and, regional and international communities, and in protecting and safeguarding their interest and welfare.
Pryce played a pivotal leadership role in 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland, in the development and adoption of the International Labour Organization’s Convention for Domestic Workers, as well as its historic ratification by the Government of Jamaica.
Representing the ICWI Foundation was Carolind Graham, chairperson of the Jamaica Reach to Recovery. First started in 1977 to support breast cancer survivors, Reach to Recovery annually assists hundreds of women affected by breast cancer, using funds raised through various activities each year.
The JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation introduced Latoya Nesbitt, acting principal of the Allman Town Primary School, one of the schools participating in the foundation’s ‘Conversations for Greatness’ programme.
This initiative targets some 150 primary and secondary schools that have been identified as part of the Ministry of Education’s Operation Turnaround, having performed below the national averages, according to the 2014 National Education Inspectorate Report. As evidence of the success of the project thus far, there has been a reduction in absenteeism, improvement in academic performance and disruptive behaviours among the 40,000 children, and greater synergies among the 3,000 teachers and administrators at schools that have completed the programme.
Next up was Dr Olivene Burke, JP, community development and transformation specialist with the JN Foundationsponsored Mona Social Services – a non-governmental organisation established in 2011 through the office of the principal of the UWI, Mona, to build partnerships to improve the social and economic condition of underserved communities surrounding the campus.
For the Jamaica Broilers Foundation, Dr Claudette Cooke is convenor of Signature Woman, which the Jamaica Broilers Foundation has supported for seven years with the hope that women may help other women embrace the truth of the Word about themselves and find their purposes and fulfilment in the Lord.
The NCB Foundation introduced Tamara McHayle, its 2008 all-island tertiary scholarship champion who has gone on to blaze a trail of achievement in journalism, public relations, youth development and volunteerism.
Sagicor Foundation presented Oshin Lawrence, a 23-year old past recipient of the Sagicor Foundation tertiary scholarship. The alumnus of The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, benefited from the scholarship programme during her last two years at the UWI. Oshin graduated in 2017 with a double major honours degree in operations management and marketing.
Now, Oshin is employed to Sagicor Group Jamaica and remains an active volunteer of the Sagicor Foundation. She strongly believes in ‘paying it forward’ and helping others.
The VM Foundation also presented Kerri-Ann Mew, a recipient of the VM Head Start Master Plan Scholarship who has completed a law degree at The University of the West Indies.
The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation introduced Kinshasia Johnson, who recounted a rocky road after becoming pregnant at age 14. She attended the centre and continued her studies, passing eight CXCs in ones, twos and threes, and also attaining a high-school diploma.
She is currently permanently employed and enrolled at the Caribbean Maritime University on a part-time basis, where she is pursing a bachelor of science degree in the field of logistics and supply chain management.
The final awardee, the Phillip & Christine Gore Family Foundation, presented 10 principals of the basic schools they are assisting to become model early-childhood education institutions.