When her father died in January, the 16-year-old teen mom knew that keeping his bakery running would make him proud.

Through the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation initiative called Moms and More Entrepreneurship Circle (MOMEC), she will be able to fulfil that dream.

At a Business Works Pitchfest 2022 last Friday, the 16-year-old outperformed her 17-year-old peer, after presenting her entrepreneurial idea, and received $80,000 in business budget support, a business incorporation certificate fee, and three-year business incubation support.

She was unable to contain her joy.

“It’s a great feeling. I knew I could do this. I am just so happy; I can’t find the words to express how I feel. Being a teen mother doesn’t mean I am incapable of doing big things.” she said.

“When daddy was alive he had a love for baking which was unexplainable, and since I was so close to him, I knew he always wanted this, and getting the support at the Women’s Centre to fulfil his dream, I took the opportunity,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

She said what makes the baking company different from others, is its promotion of healthy baked products.

“The slogan is ‘Healthy has never been sweeter’. We will be using honey instead of sugar, cauliflower flour instead of white flour, lemon juice and baking powder instead of yeast,” she said, noting that the bakery makes products such as cupcakes, muffins, and breads.

“You won’t be watching your weight or your calorie intake. We cater for customers’ health and wellness and happiness,” she added.

The teen mom, who wishes to become a lawyer, said when the business resumes operation in the next two years it will help to fund her studies.

Her business coach Denise Saunders said she admires her persistence.

“I have one of the best experiences coaching her. She is willing to learn, open to suggestions. She is a thinker and she is driven. I am going to continue to guide and motivate her and get that dream realised. I am looking forward to her tremendous success,” said Saunders.

Meanwhile, the first runner-up expressed gratitude for the programme.

The 17-year-old, who has plans of enhancing her grandparents’ shoe and bag repair business, received $50,000 in business budget support, business incorporation certificate fee and three years’ business incubation support.

“It helped me to get out of certain issues — talk about my past without feeling hurt because there’s nothing to feel hurt about. They helped me to understand business and showed me a lot of love,” she said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be in anything else and think about giving up when I know I am a champion,” she added.

The MOMEC was developed through an agreement with Business Works Management Consultants and Global Entrepreneurship Network’s Startup Huddle programme, which operates in several countries.

The teen moms received instruction in a number of disciplines, including personal entrepreneurial characteristics, business start-up management, and start-up operation.

Other partners for the programme are University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Development Bank of Jamaica, and Bob Marley Foundation.