Mandeville, Manchester — Earlier this year, an eight-month empowerment programme geared towards women was launched here.

The initiative, called REAP, (Realise Embrace Achieve your Purpose), was formulated by non-government organisation Young Women of Purpose (YWOP) and targeted teenagers to young adults.

Organisers said that the aim was to build the self-esteem and outlook of the participants who have had setbacks and challenges such as teen pregnancy and abuse.

“We tried our best to expose young women who were vulnerable — maybe at home not doing anything, maybe not a whole lot of prospects. We have tried to engage them and expose them to different opportunities and different experiences,” said project manager, Eva Forde, at the closing of the project this month.

After a series of relevant outings and activities to accomplish the mission, the participants, now called REAPERS, said that they are more inspired and confident in moving forward with their lives.

Participant Sasha-Gaye Johnson likened the exposure to blindfolds being taken off.

“Before joining this programme we didn’t see a vivid path towards our future. We were like youth with blindfolds over our eyes. Becoming a reaper changed us all,” she said.

For Primrose Grant, the programme has helped her in being one step closer to her aspirations to pursue a career as a nurse.

Sasha-Lee Edwards said that she now has more courage and faith that her plans for her life will be achieved.

Founder and chief executive officer of YWOP, Lanisia Rhoden, said that REAP is the second funded project of her organisation.

It was funding from the Commonwealth Youth Council and Cuso International that enabled the project to be implemented, she said.

The first funded initiative was a Youth Entrepreneurship Project sponsored by the United Nations Urban Youth Fund.

“I am always thinking of ways in which we can create further impact. One of the things that I really believe in is not just to meet and to talk, but actually to get things done. I am very passionate about what I do, very passionate about helping young people. Many young persons… because they do not have the right guidance and assistance, they cannot achieve their goals,” said Rhoden.

Nineteen participants benefited from the programme.

Rhoden said that though the official closing timeline for the project is now complete, additional funding through Cuso International has allowed for supplementary group “therapeutic sessions.”

The sessions are being offered through Pure Potential, a privately operated Jamaican Therapy company that deals with abuse on individual, group and organisational levels.

Forde told the gathering that mentorship through YWOP is ongoing.