BARBADOS AND GRENADA are joining forces to improve the fortunes and future of teenage parents.
The Improving the Life Opportunities of Young Mothers in Barbados and Grenada project was launched at UN House, Marine Gardens, Christ Church today.
The project was initiated by the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) which does work in both countries and approached organizations doing similar work to join forces under one banner.
“Grenada is one of the countries we work in and when we did the research, in Grenada unfortunately the impact [of teen pregnancies] was particularly [great] and we felt that we could provide intervention,” said CPDC executive co-ordinator Shantal Munro-Knight.
As such, the CPDC approached the Programme for Adolescent Mothers in Grenada and the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) in Barbados to launch an 18 month project designed to give the participants job skills; to assist them complete their education and to provide counselling.
Funded by the Maria Holder Trust, the project will focus on 75 young women – 50 in Grenada and 25 in Barbados. Orientation begins this Thursday at the BFPA. (CA)