First Regional Co-operative Credit Union continued its outreach activities in St Ann, with the donation of two computers to the St Ann’s Bay branch of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF).
The two computers were handed over by CEO of First Regional Co-operative Credit Union, Patricia Smith at the centre on Seville Road in St Ann’s Bay on Wednesday, September 7.
The computers will aid in the preparation of adolescent mothers in the Virtual CSEC Programme that the centre offers. This programme allows the female students to prepare for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations through long distance via Skype. Teachers from the WCJF centre in Kingston will use Skype as a medium to interact and disseminate information on the subjects that the girls will be sitting. These are mathematics, English language, social studies and principles of business.
Eight girls are enrolled in the programme thus far.
“Apart from the fact that the facilitation of educational opportunities forms a significant plank of First Regional’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, we are certainly excited that the story being written by the young women attending this centre is one renewed by hope,” explained CEO of First Regional Co-operative Credit Union, Patricia Smith.
She expressed her elation at helping the girls at the centre.
“The donation of these computers represents First Regional’s expression of support and encouragement to each and every one of the young ladies attending this Women’s centre. The Good Book says it is better to give than to receive,” she added.
Velma Monteith, centre manager, expressed her gratitude for the donations and explained that the two computers would go a far way in assisting the girls as they previously had one computer at the centre. She lauded Ms Smith and her team at First Regional Credit Union for responding to their request.
Olenska Baker, one of the girls at the centre, explained that the donation of the computers will go a long way with helping with her studies as she seeks to embark on her dream of becoming a paralegal clerk.
The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation is a national social programme which was established in 1978 to provide continuing education to adolescent girls 17 years and under who become pregnant while in school. The foundation currently has seven main centres and twelve outreach stations islandwide. Over 40,000 teen mothers have been assisted since the commencement of the foundation.
