FIRST Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger joined representatives from Women Across Differences (WAD), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, and volunteers and beneficiaries of the WAD’s Mothers for Change programme for adolescent mothers for a special luncheon at the Georgetown Club on Friday.The First Lady, the Patron of WAD, organised the luncheon with support from two of her friends, Ms. Joan King and Ms. Nancy Taylor; and a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoP) revealed the First Lady said it was a good opportunity to get to know the young adolescent mothers who are part of the WAD programme.

“[We] wanted to do something nice for them…to have a relaxing lunch where we could get to know them a bit more. So this is just an informal gathering of ladies mostly, where we would just sit down together, chat, find out a bit more about each other,” Mrs. Granger said.

The MoP release said the First Lady noted that Republic Bank and the UNFPA have been assisting the programme for quite some time; and as such, they were invited to participate. However, she also pointed out: “There are many more volunteers who support WAD, but we just gathered up a few people while my friends were here, so that they could get together, meet them and have an enjoyable time together.”

Ms. Clonel Samuels-Boston, Coordinator of WAD, said WAD started its programme for teenage mothers in 2008, and has since worked closely with the UNFPA. She noted that Republic Bank threw its support behind WAD after one of its teen mothers, at a UNFPA World Population Day forum, told her story, engaging the bank’s attention.

“So they began a programme with us…this is the first year, and we are so grateful. It is a very good programme…it has been identified as a best practice in the Region and also internationally, as it is very comprehensive,” Ms. Samuels-Boston said.

Ms. Patrice La Fleur, UNFPA Country Representative, said her office chose to support WAD “because of its mandate for girls and women’s empowerment”.

UNFPA has provided technical and financial support and other opportunities for the teenage mothers, who themselves formed the Mothers for Change group.

Republic Bank was represented at the meeting by the Manager of Marketing and Communications, Ms. Michelle Johnson. She said that in 2015 the bank forged a four-year partnership with WAD via its ‘Power to Make a Difference’ social investment initiative.

“Their exemplary focus and their impact on the lives of teen mothers (are) well aligned with Republic Bank’s quest to bring the Power to Succeed to vulnerable youth,” she said.