Women being bold for change

WE are all aware that role models and mentors play an essential part in the development of individuals. In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) this Wednesday, March 8, All Woman decided to ask powerful women in Jamaica how they have helped to make the world better for women and girls they work with, come in contact with, or supervise. Fae Ellington, broadcaster and lecturer at the University of the West Indies:Kelly Tomblin, president and CEO of Jamaica Public Service Company:Yulit Gordon, executive director of Jamaica Cancer Society:Dr Zoe Simpson, executive director of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation:

The IWD theme for 2017 is ‘Be Bold for Change’, and both men and women are being encouraged to work towards a more gender-inclusive world.

The women’s responses are stated below.

[I believe that] young ladies need to value themselves if they are to realise their full potential and gain the respect of others. It’s hardly likely that anyone will value you if you don’t value yourself. Young women need to raise their personal bar of excellence. They should not be satisfied with being average or [remaining] where they are. Don’t allow fear and low self-esteem to hold you back. Surround yourself with people who can encourage and empower you. It’s critical for young women to maximise their gifts and talents and not be satisfied with developing just one area of their life. Remember, you can achieve anything if you put your heart and soul into it.

Diahann Gordon-Harrison, Children’s Advocate

Every day and every time I come in contact with girls and younger women, I try to interface with them, encourage them, and mentor them through words of advice, and also [by] creating opportunities, where I can, for them to be exposed to new experiences, and to really hone their skills in their area of interest. So for me, motivation and using the power of positive thinking to create meaningful opportunities so that they can gain experience and also promote self are some of the ways I continue to influence and assist girls and young women. This year’s theme is excellent. Women need to recognise that sometimes we need to hold on to the power that we each have individually and to make a step in the right direction, and we [will] create the change we want to see. For me the theme embodies action; it is no longer sitting down and saying, ‘Oh I wish this could happen’. But it is about how you can contribute to that dream or to that objective that you want to see, and getting up with that bold spirit and really going for it.

I have always been committed to taking risks on and with women – putting them in jobs I think they can do and promoting their capabilities. Very often, people have a preconceived notion of who qualifies for a particular type of job or position. I don’t feel bound to follow those ‘rules’. I look beyond the ‘obvious qualifications’ to the substance of the person, their passion to get the job done, and their willingness and ability to rise to the occasion. Thankfully, I’ve been proven correct often enough to make a real difference in the lives of several women and organisations as a whole. I am also committed to building a community of women that support each other through mentoring and other developmental activities. One such is the creation of the Women In Energy community. This group was actually birthed out of the Women In Energy Conference that I conceptualised last year. It has been such an amazing movement of women embracing, encouraging, and lifting up other women that I can truly say we are indeed stronger together. Importantly, I model courage, authenticity and resiliency – I tell my true story – with all my imperfections and failures. It’s a vulnerable place to be, but it’s honest and empowering to others. It says to women looking on, ‘Don’t wait to be perfect before trying to make a difference. Just be the best that you can be.’

In 2015, countries across the globe adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Goal No. 5 calls for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, it is critical to forging a legacy of economic growth and social development for the next generation. International Women’s Day is a good time to celebrate women and the strides that we have made in economic, social and political development. The leadership team at the Jamaica Cancer Society is comprised predominantly of women. We meet on a weekly basis, and at these meetings there is a level playing field where everyone’s opinion is valued and respected. The team is empowered to develop the strategies that will guide the delivery of their respective targets, and [they] are rewarded accordingly. I have established a culture of “I am my brother’s keeper”, and this has created a family environment that promotes sharing, caring and well-being. I encourage my team to set personal goals and to review them on a regular basis, as it serves to keep them focused, organised and motivated. There is no doubt that everyone can #BeBoldForChange.

Assisting adolescent mothers to continue and complete their secondary education through the work of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, is an opportunity to make a unique contribution to the process of human capital development and, by extension, the process of nation building. For the most part, adolescent mothers are just as ambitious as their counterparts, and equally desirous and capable of achieving academic success. Since 1998, the WCJF, with the under two per cent second recidivism, has proven that, with an abundance of support, the young mothers are able to hurdle the challenges associated with an early pregnancy, maximise their full potential, and become citizens who make an invaluable contribution to their communities. Helping these adolescent mothers to ‘get up’, and get on with their lives, is regarded as being a privilege and a priority.