‘Take a bow’ moments

SOME of this year’s proudest moments for women are listed below.

Grass roots women become agents of change through leadership training

Fourteen hopeful and ambitious grass roots women were trained to take on leadership positions for the betterment of their respective inner-city communities in an upliftment programme undertaken by the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre in partnership with the United Nations Democracy Fund. The programme, which forms part of the Strengthening Women’s Leadership Initiative, came about following a needs assessment conducted in 2009. Following the training period, 14 trainees were to become community facilitators, each of whom in turn would be required to train and mentor another 10 grass roots women to, in the same way, rise to the challenge of leadership. The women have sought, since training began, to be agents of change and leadership in their communities.

Three-year-old bravely battling diabetes

Many hearts were thrilled with the story of three-year-old Kiara Lumsden, who led a very carefree life despite the fact that she was battling diabetes. She takes insulin three times daily to treat her Type One diabetes and is pricked another six times to test her blood glucose level. At just three, she can recite the nutritional contents on a favourite snack as she would her alphabet, and her bedtime is at 12 midnight following her sixth test. With the support of her mother, 29-year-old medical student Maudielaine March, and her father and grandmother, Kiara has proven that having diabetes is not a death sentence, even when you’re three.

Sharon Robinson: battling for the sexes

Research co-ordinator at the Bureau of Women’s Affairs Sharon Robinson is passionate about gender equality. A trained teacher with over 18 years of experience in the classroom, Robinson has committed herself to greater collaboration between men and women for the overall development of Jamaica. Her sterling performance at the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, fighting the good fight for equality of men and women, brought her to the attention of the US Embassy and she was chosen to represent Jamaica in an international US State Department project, entitled ‘Women and Justice’ in March in Washington DC; Reno, Nevada; Louisville, Kentucky; and Ithaca and New York City in New York State. This professionally enriching programme coincided with the US observation of March as Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8.

Marlene Malahoo Forte named Young Global Leader

Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, was honoured as a Young Global Leader (YGL). The honour, bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum, recognises the most distinguished young leaders below the age of 40 from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

All Woman awarded for coverage of gender issues

Sixty-one women, including two from the Observer, were awarded for their outstanding contribution to various sectors of the society as part of celebrations to mark International Women’s Day and the launch of the Inter-American Year of Women. The women were acknowledged for their role in community development, governance, entrepreneurship, health, education, agriculture, sports as well as media, at a ceremony hosted by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs (BWA) at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston. Observer staff reporter Nadine Wilson and All Woman editor Petulia Clarke were the only media awardees.

Influential Rasta women honoured

The 127th anniversary of the birthday of Empress Menen, wife of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, was marked by the honouring of 13 Rastafari empresses on March 28 at the Ashanti Restaurant, Hope Gardens. Behind this celebration was a group of current-generation Rastafari faithful called the Rastafari Youth Initiative Council, which for the second year, marked the occasion by honouring the works of elder “sistrens”. At the grand old age of 91, empress Gertrude Campbell headed the list of honourees for the Empress Menen meritorious award with the elevation to Queen Mother. She was an aide to Lenoard Percival Howell, the visionary who first proclaimed Rastafari at Pinnacle on the outskirts of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Trinidad and Tobago gets first woman Prime Minister

Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected the first woman prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago after her five-party coalition swept to victory in snap elections in the former British colony.

Persad-Bissessar’s campaign tapped into voters’ worries about rising gang violence and corruption scandals there.

The 58-year-old also promised to increase pensions and create a multimillion-dollar fund for sick children in a campaign focused on change.