MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Teen mothers at the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica, Montego Bay branch were feted and hosted to mentorship sessions by members of the Sandals Foundation Montego Bay to mark International Women’s Day.

Apart from the social interaction, the teens received a motivational talk from Sandals Corporate University (SCU) Instructional and Content Development Manager Sigourney Hastings-Cox, who entreated them to practice positive affirmation on a daily basis.

“You are smart, you are courageous, you are beautiful and despite your current circumstances, you can be whatever you want to be,” Hastings-Cox noted.

Relating her own journey, Hastings-Cox said the fact that she too came from humble beginnings and was able to become a manager at a company like Sandals proved that the sky is the limit for students of the Women’s Centre.

The SCU manager urged the students to concentrate on their education as well as associating with positive individuals who could act mentors in their lives.

Following the talk by Hastings-Cox, the students engaged in break-out mentorship sessions with members of the team from Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Judian Scott, acting manager of the Montego Bay Women’s Centre, was effusive in her praise for the assistance given by the Sandals Foundation.

“We are grateful that the Sandals Foundation team would take time out from their busy schedule on such an important day as International Women’s Day to share their experiences with the students as well as fete them in such grand style,” she observed.

Over the years, the Sandals Foundation has donated a number of laptop computers as well as fully outfitted the cosmetology lab used by students to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and allowing participants to do their practical sessions, respectively. The improvements have resulted in many achieving full certification in their field of study.

“Some of our girls were successful in as many as seven CSEC subjects,” Scott said.

Regional public relations coordinator for Montego Bay Ashley Simms said, “Sandals Foundation believes in second chances, and in using mentorship as a vehicle for transformation hence our long-standing support of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica.”