MONTEGO BAY, St James — With the aim of strengthening the employability of teen mothers in today’s digitally driven world, the Sandals Foundation last Friday handed over a newly outfitted computer laboratory to the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica, Montego Bay branch.

The computer lab will serve some 25 teen mothers as well as the Lucea branch community, improving the digital capacity of the young women and facilitating their National Standard Curriculum (NSC) and Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) certification in information technology in order to improve their employability.

Valued at approximately $1.5 million, upgrades at the lab include the provision of six computers and desks, electrical upgrades and surge protector, AC servicing, and painting of the facility.

Judian Scott, manager of the Montego Bay Women’s Centre, was unreserved in her praise for the assistance given by the Sandals Foundation, noting it will advance the organisation’s future plans.

“We are planning to offer a new skill, which is customer service, and so the computer lab will assist the young women to become employable in the BPO sector,” Scott said. “Because of these donations the girls will be able to upskill and become better citizens in the society.”

Over the years the Sandals Foundation has donated several laptop computers and fully outfitted the cosmetology lab used by students to sit the CSEC exams, allowing participants to do their practical sessions in each respective case. 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.

In expressing gratitude, director of field operations at the Women’s Centre Beverly Martin-Berry said, “On behalf of Sports and Culture Minister Olivia Grange and the board of management, staff and students , we are highly appreciative of the partnership forged as the Sandals Foundation is always willing to step up and assist the centres islandwide.”

Martin-Berry said the computer lab aligns with that part of the Government’s Vision 2030 programme centred around human capital development, allowing the students to become information technology savvy as well as feel empowered.

Dawn Smith, general manager of Sandals Montego Bay who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony on behalf of the Sandals Foundation, lauded the Women’s Centre of Jamaica for the sterling work the organisation is doing on behalf of pregnant teens. She affirmed a commitment of the resort “to have the young women complete their six-week work experience by becoming part of the Sandals Hospitality programme”.

Executive director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke said, “Sandals Foundation believes in second chances and in using education as a vehicle for transformation — hence our long-standing support of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica.”

Clarke pointed to the foundation,s ’40 for 40′ Initiative which offers 40 outreach transformation programmes spread across the region — noting that the support to the computer lab firmly aligns with empowering the Caribbean region’s most vulnerable women by ensuring they have access to the resources needed to further their education and skills development.