ST JAMES, Jamaica — Aiming to ensure that a desired target group of young women get long-term support, St James Festival Queen for 2026 Tanya Kentish says she intends to carry on her parish project for as long as possible.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer following the launch of Her Voice, Kentish shared her ambitions for the mentorship programme aimed at female wards of the State.

“I know what it’s like as somebody who was a ward of the State, I know what it’s like to need somebody to talk to and not being able to express myself and also needing help with school. I need to be able to give that to these young girls,” she declared.

“I strongly believe in something not just being a one-year thing, where it’s throughout your reign you do something and then you pass over the crown, there is that red line and you will never take it back up,” she added.

Last Friday, Kentish led what she described as a Her Voice Sister Circle where the girls were able to interact with individuals who understand in a sip and paint setting.

A ward of the state who participated in the paint and sip session.

“The purpose of Her Voice is to give young girls, wards of the State, a safe space where they are able to grow, they are trained in public speaking, they are trained how to address and speak about what they are feeling,” she said.

She explained that part of the focus of the initiative is help that girl move past their fear and step into something despite feeling nervous about participating in an activity.

“But the fact that she stepped into it, she tried something new whether it was running for head girl in high school, whether it’s becoming a prefect , whether it’s joining a club and probably going to JCDC and performing, this space builds up that courage,” she remarked.

She explained that even though this was the official launch, work has been ongoing previously through her Pink Cloud organisation that has now morphed into Her Voice.

“I am seeing where the girls are being more expressive with themselves. They will come and say I feel like this or they might not be able to tell you exactly how they are feeling but over time with this programme, we are able to teach them that,” she said.

She also said there are plans to further expand the programme to include some academic support.

“We are trying to introduce tutoring programmes to help them with academics. We have very smart young ladies who genuinely need that help,” she said.

“We’re planning to help them with maths, language, social studies and the lost goes on. We also want to help them, when they get further into high school, with the SBAs as well. It’s to give them what is really lacking when it comes to the homes,” she said.

Parish manager for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, (JCDC), Collel Blake, said the local arm was excited to work with her on the project.

“The JCDC is proud to partner with our parish queen Ms Tanya Kentish. This project is a passion project for her,” she said. “Having lived it, she understands it, and so she stands in solidarity with the wards and becomes their Nanny [Heroine] to fight for the betterment of their futures. The JCDC could not be more proud of this initiative and will stand by her throughout the project execution as we carry out our mission to influence national development,” she added.