By Jared Liddell

80 students graduated from The Carnegie School of Home Economics Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers Programme

The 80 graduates were a part of the second batch of the initiative which saw 30 graduates in the first batch.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ingrid Trotman, during the simple ceremony, highlighted that the 6-week programme not only worked to provide training for the mothers but also, in some cases, the transportation and day-care services for the children of the students in the programme.

The Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers Programme offered two main courses, namely, Elementary Cakes and Pastries and General Cosmetology. The programme, in the near future, is likely to see additional courses in garment construction and fabric design.

Principal of Carnegie School of Home Economics, Myrna Lee, advised the students to go after their dreams, explaining to them that no dream was too big to be achieved no matter the circumstances. She reminded them to take every opportunity presented to them and to always put their best foot forward to ensure their success. Lee reflected on her own life and how determined she was to achieve her goals and charged the students to set goals for themselves and to never stop until they achieve them.

“I dare you to go after your dreams, chase after your dreams and live out your dreams with patience and passion”, Lee instructed.

Representative of UNICEF Guyana, Audrey Michele Rodrigues, spoke to the students and encouraged them to use the training they received from the program for their own success. She encouraged them to always rise above the challenges, and that they must remain resilient in their efforts to be successful and to always seek out opportunities to better themselves as individuals, for their own benefit and for the benefit of their families.

Minister of education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, congratulated the students on taking the initiative to be a part of the programme in an effort to better themselves even after becoming adolescent mothers. She expressed to the graduates that their decision to take part in the programme would help them in getting greater chances for opportunity to provide for their families and themselves. Henry told the graduates that being pregnant at a younger age should not deter them from achieving their academic goals and aiming to better themselves.

“Become admirable professionals, I know you have the tenacity and resolve to become advocates, educators, and most significantly, become champions”, Minister Henry charged the graduates.

The graduates all received kits, complements of the Ministry of Education, relating to the course of study they were graduating from. The Elementary Cakes and Pastry students received cooking utensils while the students from the general cosmetology class received cosmetic items they could use in the world of work.