Thirty-two girls from the Campbellville Government Secondary School in Georgetown came out on Saturday for an initiative by the Rotary Club of Garden City (Georgetown) called the Girls’ Empowerment Wellness Weekend.
The initiative, the third of its kind so far, sought to empower girls, ages 12 to 17, to be what they can be; to enable them to make changes in their own lives, families, and communities.
Held at the Guyana Olympic Association, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, Rotary president Melissa De Santos told News Room that they decided to reach out to this particular school to offer help in this manner due to some negative reports that are circulating.
‘Human Services Minister’ Vindhya Persaud (right) with President of the Rotary Club of Garden City Georgetown, Melissa De Santos
“We’ve noticed in the press a lot of stories coming out of Campbellville Secondary. There is a lot of bullying happening there, so we decided we would reach out. We’re not going to stop with just the girls; we will have a talk with the boys as well,” De Santos shared.
The two-day session will not just focus on bullying. It will take in a holistic approach to mental health and other concerns. Also, persons from different career backgrounds will interact with the girls.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who has been instrumental in helping the rotary members pull off this event, commended its 40 members for the good work they are doing with the empowerment of girls.
“I believe it is necessary given what we are seeing across the country in many schools; bullying, instances of violence, teenage pregnancy, all of these are social issues which affect girls. I will always support this because it is necessary for mentorship to happen,” she expressed.
Minister Persaud said she viewed the engagement as wholly beneficial because it engages not just the girls, but their families as well. “It’s a holistic approach to helping young persons find themselves a little, and if this can mature into something that is sustainable, where they have frequent engagements with this group, I will really like to see that.”
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