Mandeville Women’s Centre Receives Funds to Repair Roof

The Mandeville chapter of the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica, has received $1.7 million to restore its roof, which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Dean last August. Most of the funds are being donated by the Government of Jamaica, while United Way of Jamaica and the Returning Resident Association (London chapter), have put up more than $250,000.
Manager of the Centre, Rosalie Robinson- Smith has welcomed the contribution, saying it is a gesture that will keep the work of the organisation going and help the youngsters continue their training.
“We are quite grateful for the funds, it will now help the girls to continue on the second chance that they have embarked on. The work that we do here has turned around many young lives, and persons were anxious to know if we would have resumed the programmes that we had to curtail as a result of the damage that we suffered by the hurricane,” Mrs. Robinson-Smith explained.
The Centre offers vocational skill training, and counselling for teenage mothers up to the age of 17.
For Nakita Jones a teen mother and student, seeing the repair work being done has eased her fears. “I am very thankful to everyone who gave money for the repair work. I was fearful of the future and what life was going to be for many teen mothers like myself who depend on the Centre for guidance and useful support,” she said. The project is slated for completion in three weeks.